New Porsche Panamera, Sri Lanka’s first plug-in hybrid drive in luxury class

In the second generation of the Gran Turismo, Porsche is introducing the world’s first plug-in hybrid to the luxury class. Along with The Panamera SE-Hybrid with 416 hp of system power and an entirely new three-litre V6 engine, with bi-turbo charging for the Panamera S and Panamera 4S. An already unrivalled broad base of models has now been extended and consists of 10 models offering an even further broader range between sportiness and comfort.

New and further developed technologies have enabled fuel savings of up to 56%, while further enhancing operating and driving comfort. The new Panamera underscores its exceptional positioning with an even more expressive design language in the style of the new sports car generations that are marked by tighter lines, more pronounced contours and newly shaped body elements. In short: The Porsche Panamera is even more efficient, sporty, comfortable and elegant. The new generation Gran Turismo celebrates its world premiere at Auto China in Shanghai, which opened its gates recently.

The Panamera S E-Hybrid is a systematically advanced development of the parallel full hybrids with a more powerful electric motor, a higher-performance battery that supplies more energy and the ability to charge it externally from the electrical grid. The electric drive produces 95 hp (70 kW), which is more than double the power of the previous model’s electric motor at 47 hp (34 kW).

It draws its energy from a newly developed lithium-ion battery, which at 9.4 kWh has over five times the 1.7 kWh energy capacity of the previous battery in nickel metal hydride technology. When connected to an industrial outlet, it can be charged within around two and a half hours via the integrated on-board charger and the standard Porsche Universal Charger (AC), and it can be charged in less than four hours when connected to a conventional household electrical outlet in Germany.

The Panamera S E-Hybrid far exceeds the driving performance of the previous model. In addition, the previous model’s NEDC fuel consumption of 7.1 l/100 km was reduced by 56% to 3.1 l/100 km. At the same time, its all-electric driving performance was substantially improved with regard to electric acceleration, the electric range and electric top speed. An intensive pure electric driving experience is possible without any fuel consumption or local emissions, which is especially advantageous in the urban environment.

The electric driving range of the Panamera S E-Hybrid was determined to be 36 km in NEDC-based testing. Driving range may vary in real operation, since air conditioning and heating are deactivated in NEDC test conditions, for example. A realistic all-electric driving range in everyday operation would lie somewhere between 18 and 36 km, and under particularly favourable conditions it could even exceed this range. The Panamera with the new hybrid drive can reach speeds of up to 135 km/h in all-electric operation.

The acceleration time from a standstill to 100 km/h was shortened by half a second to 5.5 seconds. The electric boost function helps here, in which the performance of the electric motor boosts that of the combustion engine. Boosting can also be activated by kick-down, such as in overtaking situations. The car’s top speed is 270 km/h. The parallel full hybrid concept developed by Porsche also offers ‘coasting’ at higher speeds, which refers to free coasting with the internal combustion engine shut off and energy recovery by generating electricity.

The forward-looking concept of the Panamera S E-Hybrid also embodies an entirely new range of convenience functions, which can also be activated and called up by a smart phone app. There is the charge status indicator, for example. In addition, the auxiliary climate control option of the plug-in hybrid enables car preheating or cooling via Porsche car connect; it can be programmed in the vehicle or even more conveniently via the smart phone app.

A smart phone may also be used for battery management or for remote access to vehicle information such as the remaining driving range or for guiding users back to their parked vehicles. All functions that are not specific to the hybrid drive are also available as options for the other Panamera models via the Car Connect smart phone app from Porsche.

More performance and efficiency

Boosting of performance and efficiency is a core competency at Porsche. In developing the new Panamera, this led to an entirely new engine based on the downsizing concept: A V6 engine with three litres displacement and biturbo charging. The V6 biturbo replaces the previous 4.8-litre V8 engine in the Panamera S and Panamera 4S. Its basic parameters themselves are indicators of progress: 20 hp more power and 20 Newton metres more torque, but up to 18% better fuel economy compared to the V8 engine in the previous model.

This not only gives the driver a more powerful and efficient engine; turbo charging results in a maximum torque of 520 Newton metres being available over a very broad range of engine speeds for a superior and uniform power curve, even at low revs. Most Panamera models are equipped with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung PDK. The comfortable eight-speed automatic Tiptronic S operates in the Panamera Diesel and Panamera S E-Hybrid.

This transmission creates optimal conditions for further development of other efficiency functions. For example, the extended start-stop function now deactivates the engine earlier while coasting to a stop, which saves more fuel. With the exception of the Panamera GTS, models with PDK also offer a coasting function in which the clutches open in overrun, the engine idles, and the vehicle coasts freely. This function can significantly improve fuel economy, especially when travelling on the motorway.

Further developed design with LED headlights

The further advanced exterior design of the Panamera can be made out at first glance. The tighter and more prominent line work at the front end is especially apparent in the larger air intakes and the distinctive transition to the headlights. In side pro-file, the new, more swept-back windscreen creates an even more extended silhouette. When viewed from the back, the new generation Panamera is primarily made out by its new boot lid.

The widened rear windscreen emphasises the horizontal orientation of the Gran Turismo and therefore, its sporty character. The rear section itself was also redesigned, including the wider spoiler, and it shows a tighter transition to the rear lights, similar to the visual transition of the headlights at the front of the car. As in previous models, the new Panamera models also offer many differentiating exterior characteristics. Further customisation is achieved by the numerous options that are offered, including the new LED headlights, which give the Gran Turismo a very special appearance.

The Panamera models are further upgraded by new standard features such as bi-xenon headlights, multifunction steering wheel and an automatic boot lid. In addition, an extended line-up of assistance systems is available for safety and convenience. The optimised adaptive cruise control system, for example, now actively intervenes in the braking process in hazardous situations. Camera-based traffic sign detection and lane departure warning offer greater convenience in cross-country and motorway travel.

The new generation of Panamera models will be launched by September 2013. Prices starting from Rs. 29.5 million for the Panamera S E-Hybrid and Rs. 40.9 million for the Panamera, and the top of the line Panamera Turbo will cost Rs. 67 million. These prices are valid in Sri Lanka only and inclusive of VAT. Porsche customers have full access to our unlimited Porsche 24 hours break down service, along with our new four year unlimited warranty which was introduced this year. The new Panamera S E-Hybrid will also offer a large reduction on import Taxes due to it being a Hybrid; costing the customer less than half of the regular import duties of a petrol vehicle. Also arriving on the market in 2014, is the new Porsche Panamera Turbo S, which represents the exclusive and sporty pinnacle of the model range.

Porsche Centre Sri Lanka

The Porsche Centre Sri Lanka was opened in 1996 by Eurocars (Pvt) Ltd, the official Porsche importer and distributor in Sri Lanka. This state-of-the-art building is located in Kelaniya in close proximity to the Colombo–Kandy Highway. Serving as a one-stop facility; sales, after sales, accessories (Tequipment), Porsche merchandising (Porsche design driver’s selection) and many more services are conveniently available within the facility. This year the company introduced a four-year unlimited warranty, therefore, make an appointment with their sales team or visit the Porsche Centre and you’ll get the personal support and individual expertise you need.