What is it?
Such is the hubbub enveloping the Porsche Taycan that you might have forgotten the Porsche Panamera exists. This is now reflected in sales figures: last year, the EV beat its ICE cousin 41,296 to 30,220 globally.
But for those who don’t want to forgo pistons, Porsche facelifted the Panamera in 2020, sharpening the exterior, updating the infotainment and, of crucial importance to buyers from Bath to Bangkok, breaking the Nürburgring lap record for exec cars with the 671bhp Turbo S E-Hybrid. However, it’s the entry-level plug-in hybrid, the 4 E-Hybrid, that’s the most broadly capable Panamera, particularly in estate-style Sport Turismo form, and this is the first time we’ve had a go in one in Britain.
The recipe includes a twin-turbo 3.0-litre petrol V6 and an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with an electric motor sandwiched between the two.
The battery that supplies up to 34 miles of electric-only range sits beneath the boot floor, outside the considerable wheelbase, and can be charged on the move by the V6 (with a parasitic effect on fuel economy) or in 3.6 hours by a wallbox charger.
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I had the earlier model, too heavy and still too heavy.
My Father will be collecting his Taycan Cross Turismo this month. He never even looked at the Panamera because he wanted an BEV. According to his dealership for example will only get 2 Taycan GTS Sport Turismo this year for customers however there is a waiting list of 15 already. Secondly, company owners want BEVs so that they can write off the price of the car due to the Government wanting them to buy BEVs. There a huge supply and demand issue at the moment.
I'm trying to look past the awful colour scheme (dark red paint with bright red brake callipers and neon badges? Yuck) but the Panamera now looks very old and out of place. I guess the sales are to Americans, Germans and other refuseniks... the rest of the world is moving on. It's always been too wide for the UK anyhow.