Porsche is a grand brand capable of producing vehicles that defy the laws of gravity, sheer your face off and comfortably carry up to five people in opulence and style. End of review.
Well, not quite.
The softer side of Porsche resides in their commitment to hybrid technology. We spent a considerable amount of time with the Cayenne Hybrid last year when we participated in a Green Car rally out of Montreal. In the end, the big powerful AWD 380 hp SUV beat out some cars that should have, at least on paper, taken the Cayenne to the environmental cleaners.
The one they've been waiting for
The Panamera is perhaps the third best move in Porsche's long and illustrious history behind the 1948 356 and the 2002 Cayenne. The week I tested the car, I purposefully crisscrossed the nicer parts of town (not my own, of course) and what I found astonished me.
First, there was a big German luxury sedan in four out of every five driveways and second, of those nearly a third proudly carried the Porsche crest. The sampling is iffy, but the point is that the Panamera was a brilliant and bold move.
The car's styling is what sets those who deserve one apart from those who prefer handsome yet more contemporary lines. It's more of the same on the inside. The Panamera's cabin has not got a conventional layout, however, if it's craftsmanship and quality you seek, the four-door 911 is all about that.
In all my years, I've not encountered a car where I felt involved in the car's drive... from the back seat! Every spot in this car is a good one. I can't imagine that riding "shotgun" would be a huge issue with this car.
Hybrid heart
The 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid carries a parallel full-hybrid system that the aforementioned Cayenne Hybrid sports, minus the AWD aspect. It consists of a supercharged 333 hp, 3.0L V6 and a 47 hp electric motor wedged between the transmission and engine. Together, they seamlessly grind out 380 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque.
The 8-speed autobox sends the power to the rear wheels exclusively, and when push comes to shove the Panamera Hybrid will reach 100 km/h in a tick under six seconds. But, that's only a small part of the story.
This car is a fantastic all-round car. It's fantastic in town thanks to uber-smooth transitions between motivation modes. It's fantastic on the highway because it's a Porsche and it's fabulous on gas.
The Panamera Hybrid is geared and designed to sip as little as 6.8L on the highway which, wait for it, is possible! My week-long test returned an average of 8.5L/100 km. Given our 8.2L average with the Cayenne, sub 8L results should be more than possible with the Pan. This is mind-blowing stuff and in a 1,984 kg (4,365 lb) four-door luxury sedan, pretty much unheard of.
The road in a hybrid
Cushy, soft and unresponsive, the 2012 Porsche Panamera Hybrid is not. Fast, exotic and engaging it is.
Unlike numerous hybrids that pawn driving feel for economy, the Panamera Hybrid retains all of its inherent driving abilities. In fact, debadging the Hybrid and lining it up with a regular S, no one would ever be able to make them out as different. The drive and handling are nearly identical; however, the powertrains differ greatly, obviously.
Porsche's adaptive air suspension, which includes Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), figures out all road details for the driver. Constant adjustments made by the system combined with the settings selected by the driver make for an immensely satisfying drive. The tested Panamera included the "must-have" Sport Chrono Package Plus which sharpens the car's reflexes and adds a handsome digital and analog stopwatch.
The Panamera Hybrid -- any Panamera, for that matter -- is far more agile and nimble than its size and girth would suggest. With sightlines and a driving position akin to that of the fabled 911, the driver quickly forgets that the car is nearly 50 cm (19") longer.
Competition and pricing
The Panamera Hybrid will not be a rare bird forever. The Audi A8 was expected with a 2.0T 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain, but it would seem that Audi has changed their minds. Instead, we're likely to get the A6 Hybrid which is unlikely to compete directly with the Panamera. The likes of the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and Lexus LS 600h L are still around, but are rarely seen or spoken of. More will come, certainly.
At $110,000, this car represents numerous things to numerous people. The 2012 Porsche Panamera Hybrid is exclusive, luxurious, fast, and incredibly efficient. Few cars on the market today can claim to please on so many important levels. As with any Porsche product, customization is a given. As tested, my car retailed for just under $130,000.
This is what makes the Panamera so appealing. If the price is an issue, you're barking up the wrong tree.
Well, not quite.
The softer side of Porsche resides in their commitment to hybrid technology. We spent a considerable amount of time with the Cayenne Hybrid last year when we participated in a Green Car rally out of Montreal. In the end, the big powerful AWD 380 hp SUV beat out some cars that should have, at least on paper, taken the Cayenne to the environmental cleaners.
The one they've been waiting for
The Panamera is perhaps the third best move in Porsche's long and illustrious history behind the 1948 356 and the 2002 Cayenne. The week I tested the car, I purposefully crisscrossed the nicer parts of town (not my own, of course) and what I found astonished me.
First, there was a big German luxury sedan in four out of every five driveways and second, of those nearly a third proudly carried the Porsche crest. The sampling is iffy, but the point is that the Panamera was a brilliant and bold move.
The car's styling is what sets those who deserve one apart from those who prefer handsome yet more contemporary lines. It's more of the same on the inside. The Panamera's cabin has not got a conventional layout, however, if it's craftsmanship and quality you seek, the four-door 911 is all about that.
In all my years, I've not encountered a car where I felt involved in the car's drive... from the back seat! Every spot in this car is a good one. I can't imagine that riding "shotgun" would be a huge issue with this car.
Hybrid heart
The 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid carries a parallel full-hybrid system that the aforementioned Cayenne Hybrid sports, minus the AWD aspect. It consists of a supercharged 333 hp, 3.0L V6 and a 47 hp electric motor wedged between the transmission and engine. Together, they seamlessly grind out 380 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque.
The 8-speed autobox sends the power to the rear wheels exclusively, and when push comes to shove the Panamera Hybrid will reach 100 km/h in a tick under six seconds. But, that's only a small part of the story.
This car is a fantastic all-round car. It's fantastic in town thanks to uber-smooth transitions between motivation modes. It's fantastic on the highway because it's a Porsche and it's fabulous on gas.
The Panamera Hybrid is geared and designed to sip as little as 6.8L on the highway which, wait for it, is possible! My week-long test returned an average of 8.5L/100 km. Given our 8.2L average with the Cayenne, sub 8L results should be more than possible with the Pan. This is mind-blowing stuff and in a 1,984 kg (4,365 lb) four-door luxury sedan, pretty much unheard of.
The road in a hybrid
Cushy, soft and unresponsive, the 2012 Porsche Panamera Hybrid is not. Fast, exotic and engaging it is.
Unlike numerous hybrids that pawn driving feel for economy, the Panamera Hybrid retains all of its inherent driving abilities. In fact, debadging the Hybrid and lining it up with a regular S, no one would ever be able to make them out as different. The drive and handling are nearly identical; however, the powertrains differ greatly, obviously.
Porsche's adaptive air suspension, which includes Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), figures out all road details for the driver. Constant adjustments made by the system combined with the settings selected by the driver make for an immensely satisfying drive. The tested Panamera included the "must-have" Sport Chrono Package Plus which sharpens the car's reflexes and adds a handsome digital and analog stopwatch.
The Panamera Hybrid -- any Panamera, for that matter -- is far more agile and nimble than its size and girth would suggest. With sightlines and a driving position akin to that of the fabled 911, the driver quickly forgets that the car is nearly 50 cm (19") longer.
Competition and pricing
The Panamera Hybrid will not be a rare bird forever. The Audi A8 was expected with a 2.0T 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain, but it would seem that Audi has changed their minds. Instead, we're likely to get the A6 Hybrid which is unlikely to compete directly with the Panamera. The likes of the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and Lexus LS 600h L are still around, but are rarely seen or spoken of. More will come, certainly.
At $110,000, this car represents numerous things to numerous people. The 2012 Porsche Panamera Hybrid is exclusive, luxurious, fast, and incredibly efficient. Few cars on the market today can claim to please on so many important levels. As with any Porsche product, customization is a given. As tested, my car retailed for just under $130,000.
This is what makes the Panamera so appealing. If the price is an issue, you're barking up the wrong tree.
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