Porsche Panamera News

In a move likely to shock diehard Porsche fans -- and give Toyota Prius drivers something to grin about -- the iconic 911 is destined to get plug-in hybrid power by 2020.The 911 of the future will still have a petrol engine for open road driving, but it will also be able to do city commuting on battery power alone.Porsche has all but confirmed a power cord will become an accessory on one of the world’s most famous sportscars after experimenting with the technology on Porsche’s mainstream sedan and SUV models, and its million-dollar 918 supercar.“I expect we’ll end up with every model line with a plug-in hybrid,” the chief engineer for Porsche’s first hybrid supercar, Dr Frank-Stefan Walliser, told News Corp Australia at the 2015 LeMans 24 Hour where Porsche is fielding three hybrid race cars.“Most people believe hybrid is Prius … slow and no fun to drive. (Porsche) is different. I love hybrids, if they are powerful,” said Porsche’s research and development chief, Wolfgang Hatz.It has to feel like a Porsche and like a 911. It must drive like these cars always drive.While hybrid technology was initially developed to save fuel in slow moving traffic, the world’s performance car brands are warming to the concept after discovering electric motors deliver instant acceleration from low speeds.When asked how long it would be before Porsche introduced hybrid power to the 911, Mr Hatz said: “For sure an all-new 911 we need the opportunity to do that (add a hybrid model). I am convinced of the concept.”With an updated version of the 911 due later this year, the next all-new, hybrid-ready model is still at least another three years away.“Personally I'm a strong supporter of hybrid technology. That is the reason I push hard for this. If it improves performance, then we need it on our sports cars, if it’s fun to drive people want to have it,” said Mr Hatz.Dr Walliser added: “It has to feel like a Porsche and like a 911. It must drive like these cars always drive.”Australia’s former Formula One ace -- and Porsche LeMans driver -- Mark Webber is also a convert of the technology.When asked if customers would embrace hybrid technology, Webber said: “Definitely. They will, because we’re not easy to convince, as racing drivers, with this technology.”Webber said hybrid technology was inevitable as strict European emissions standards forced the introduction of smaller petrol engines.“When you see the massive downsize in engines and … awesome turbo tech, consumption is low and you’ve got the interface of the hybrid side,” said Webber.“The options available off the back of this (LeMans) program, it’s some good stuff.”One of the 911 models under consideration for hybrid power is the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 -- using electric motors to drive the front wheels and a non-turbo petrol engine to drive the rear wheels.“A Carrera 4, why not?” said Dr Walliser. “With four-wheel drive what you can do, the freedom you have how to use the traction, you’re not (restricted by) the speed between the different axles.”Electric motors are a good fit in hybrid cars with non-turbo engines because they deliver instant acceleration at low speeds while regular petrol engines develop power at higher revs, he said.Porsche was the first mainstream brand to introduce a showroom-ready plug-in hybrid car, the Panamera sedan in 2012. It followed the release with the Cayenne e-Hybrid in 2013 and the plug-in hybrid 918 supercar in 2014.“Our first plug-in hybrid was in 2012 … we now know a lot more (about) what we can do with a hybrid,” said Mr Hatz.

European luxury carmakers have begun a massive rollout of plug-in hybrid technology, seeing it as the only way to meet increasingly stringent emissions standards.Cars with the system, which differs from a traditional hybrid by enabling a distance of about 30km on battery power alone, were centrepieces of almost every stand at the Paris motor show, which opened this week.Mercedes used the show to detail its S500 Plug-In Hybrid, a version of its flagship large luxury car that has "the performance of a V8 with fuel consumption of a compact model".The company says it has learned from involvement in Formula 1 to achieve fuel economy of just 2.8 litres per 100km - much less than a Toyota Prius - in a car that can charge to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds. The S500 combines a turbocharged V6 with an electric motor and can travel on lithium ion battery power for 33km.It is the spearhead for an armada of plug-ins, with Mercedes planning to launch one every four months until 2017.Mercedes chief Dieter Zetsche believes plug-in hybrids will be adopted quicker than electric vehicles, with prices in line with equivalent petrol models. "A plug-in hybrid is the 'easy entry version' for those who are still a little uncomfortable with electric cars," he said. The first luxury plug-in hybrid available in Australia is the recently launched Porsche Panamera sedan at $285,300. Porsche used the show to unveil the same system in its Cayenne SUV. It expects to sell up to 70 plug-in hybrids a year.Lamborghini was another supercar brand with a plug-in hybrid debut at Paris, with the Asterion, which combines a 5.2-litre V10 petrol engine with three electric motors for fuel consumption of 4.2 litres per 100km.It says the Asterion is a "demonstrator" but the brand has to be ready for changes in European fuel emissions rules.Lamborghini is part of the Volkswagen group and chief Martin Winterkorn warned EU regulators that companies needed time to recover the investment in new technology before emission rules were tightened further."Every gram of CO2 that we save in our European fleet costs our group almost €100 million ($144m) - €100m that we have to invest in advance, without knowing when these investments pay off," he said."That's why I worry when Brussels already now starts to cry out for new, more stringent norms for the time after 2020." Volkswagen has invested heavily in plug-in hybrids, with its luxury arm Audi committed to the system. Its Australian rollout begins with the A3 small car in March, priced at about $60,000.

Porsche has just released the sixth model in its line-up -- the Macan compact SUV -- but is already well progressed with secret plans to add yet another model to its range.The German sports-car maker appears to not be content with having posted all-time record sales last year and has even bigger visions for the future.The boss of Porsche, Matthias Muller, has indicated he would like a seventh model in the company's line-up. "If you include the super-sportscar (the 918) we have six models in our line-up," Mr Muller told journalists from China, Australia and New Zealand attending the launch of the Macan SUV in Leipzig, Germany."I think a seven-model series would be a good line up because most cars have a seven-year lifecycle," he said. "If we had seven models we could have a major event each year, as well as the (special edition) variants." Mr Muller would not say what type of car would become the seventh model.Recent speculation has centred on a two-door version of the Panamera, a mid-engined Ferrari 458 rival (to bridge the price gap between the 911 and the 918) and a budget-priced sports-car to slot in below the Boxster.However, according to Porsche insiders, the seventh model is most likely to be a mid-size sedan that would be a rival to the BMW 5 Series, and sit below the Panamera in price.The Porsche sedan would be available with rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive just like the Panamera, say company insiders, who claim it would help give Porsche economies of scale by sharing some of its components with the Macan.The mid-size Porsche sedan is said to be built off Audi's second-generation MLB (modularen langsbau) architecture, which is a development of what is already underneath the Porsche Macan.Meanwhile, Porsche says the Macan is "exactly the right vehicle at the right time" even though it has only planned to build 50,000 this year. Last year Porsche sold 75,000 Cayennes -- but the compact luxury SUV market in which the Macan competes is much larger."This year the luxury compact SUV segment will reach a total volume of 1.3 million units," said Mr Muller, adding that the category had seen a staggering 185 per cent growth in sales since 2007.Over the next 10 years, sales of luxury compact SUVs are set to exceed the 1.8 million mark, he said. "Porsche will broaden its customer base," said Mr Muller, "and most will be first-time Porsche buyers."He said Porsche had just posted a record 162,000 sales in 2013 and was on track to eclipse the 200,000 mark for the first time this year. About one-third of all Porsches are sold in China, one-third are sold in North America, and one-fifth in Europe.But Mr Muller says Porsche will continue to be a premium brand because sales growth will come from emerging markets."Porsche still only represents 0.25 per cent of cars on the road, or two to three out of every 1000 cars," said Mr Muller. "A high degree of exclusivity is assured for our brand. (But) we are going to grow profitably."This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $20,000-$40,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | $59,000-$100,000LUXURY CARSAudi A8: Audi will refresh its A8 flagship sedan lineup by mid-2014, with subtle styling tweaks and interior details, along with shuffled drivetrain options. (Approximately $188,000-$249,000)Audi RS7 Sportback: Essentially a five-door hatch version of the existing RS6 Avant, the RS7 will arrive in February with sleeker Sportback styling than the wagon, and the same 412kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. 0-100km/h is the same 3.9 seconds too. (Approximately $240,000)Bentley Continental GT S: While Bentley prepares its first SUV model, there’s not much else in store for 2014 from the legendary Brit aside from powered-up new S models added to the V8 Continental GT lineup. (Approximately $380,000)Jaguar XJR: Jaguar will add the new XJR to its XJ big sedan lineup in the first quarter, with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 performance flagship to sit above the existing Supersport range-topper. (Approximately $350,000)Lexus RC: Lexus’ new RC coupe should arrive before the end of 2014 to take on the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5, with a choice of petrol V6 and hybrid drivetrains likely to expand to include a high-performance 5.0-litre V8 RC-F soon after. (Approximately $70,000-$130,000)Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli: 2014 is set to be a big year for Maserati, with the new Quattroporte (Approximately from $250,000) arriving in V6 form in January, and V8 form in February, with the return of the smaller Ghibli sedan ( Approximately from $150,000) in March.Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Mercedes will cap its local S-Class sedan lineup in January, with the arrival of the $385,000 S63 AMG high performance model. The 430kW/900Nm twin-turbo V8 S63 will sit above the existing S350 and S500 models, and be joined by the diesel-electric S350 BlueTec hybrid and twin-turbo V6 S400 variants by June. (Approximately $250,000-$385,000)Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe: Mercedes’ upcoming S-Class Coupe is expected down under before the year’s end, with the yet to be officially revealed new model replacing the existing CL coupe models. A drop-top version is also planned, and a V8 and V12 petrol-only lineup is expected with an entry price north of $300,000 likely.Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid: The plug-in Panamera E-Hybrid is also due early in the year, with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 and 70kW electric motor to enable 3.1L/100km fuel use with 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.5 seconds. (Approximately $296,900)SUV/4WDLand Rover Range Rover: Before mid-year, Land Rover will add a range-topping lineup (Approximately $250,000) with new hybrid versions of it and the Sport expected before the end of the year. (Approximately $102,000-$182,000)Porsche Macan: Porsche will add the new sub-Cayenne Macan SUV to its Australian lineup from June, with the cheapest diesel model forming a new entry point to Porsche ownership at $84,900. Twin-turbo 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s will sit further up the price scale, with the 294kW top-spec capable of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds. (Approximately $84,900-$122,900)SPORTS/PERFORMANCEAston Martin V12 Vantage S: Aston will add its fastest model this side of the ultra-exclusive One-77 in the first quarter of this year, in the form of the track-ready V12 Vantage S coupe. (Approximately $450,000)BMW M3 and M4: BMW’s new M3 and M4 mid-size performance heroes are set to arrive after mid-year, with the move to twin-turbo six power resulting in the fastest M3 to date, and matched by the renamed M4 coupe. (Approximately $124,000-$180,000)BMW i8: The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is expected to arrive before the year’s end, blending grand tourer luxury with 4.4 second 0-100km/h acceleration and 2.5L/100km fuel economy. (Approximately $200,000)Ferrari 458 Speciale: The first of 60 Australian examples of Ferrari’s hardcore 458 Speciale are set to arrive before mid-year, with the lighter, more powerful track-focused special able to lap Fiorano 1.5 seconds faster than the old Enzo flagship. (Approximately $550,000)Jaguar F-Type Coupe: Jaguar will add the recently unveiled Coupe version of its stunning F-Type in the third quarter, with the 20kg lighter V6, V6 S and V8 S variants also expected to slightly undercut their soft-top counterparts on price. The Coupe-only F-Type R will sit at the top of the hardtop range, with the 404kW/680Nm spec V8 promising 0-100km/h acceleration in the order of 4.2 seconds. (Approximately $125,000-$200,000)Lamborghini Huracan: With the Gallardo now officially out of production, Lamborghini is keen to follow with its Huracan replacement to sit beneath the V12 Aventador models before June. The V10 Huracan is set to challenge Ferrari’s 458 with an uprated version of the Gallardo’s 5.2-litre V10 and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. From $428,000Nissan GT-R: Nissan will bring its latest incarnation of the GT-R performance coupe down under from March, with cosmetic upgrades the key changes for 2014. New LED headlights and taillights are changed for the first time since 2007, and mesh wheels keep Nissan’s giant-killer a fresh opponent for Porsche’s new 911 Turbo models. (Approximately from $170,000)Porsche 911 Turbo and GT3: Porsche will launch several key hi-po versions of the 991 911 to its Australian lineup in the first half of 2014, with the $359,800 Turbo and $441,300 Turbo S arriving first in coupe and convertible ($29,000 premium) guises, with the $294,000 track-oriented and now PDK-only GT3 soon after.Porsche 911 Targa: The new semi-convertible unveiled in Detroit will touch down in Australia before mis-year, with a new folding roof mechanism and all-wheel drive 4 and 4S versions. Both manual and PDK auto will be available, and prices will sit $2,300-$3,300 over existing Cabriolet models. (Approximately $247,900-$291,050)CONVERTIBLESAston Martin Vanquish Volante: For those who prefer their V12 Astons roofless and with a back seat, Aston will bring the Vanquish Volante to Australia in the first quarter of 2014. (Approximately $510,000)Bentley Continental GTC S: Like the hardtop GT, the soft top Continental GTC is set to score a powered up S model in 2014. (Approximately $420,000)BMW 4 Series convertible: The folding hardtop version of BMW’s 4-Series coupe is expected by March, and echo its hardtop sibling with 420d, 428i, and 435i drivetrains. (Approximately $85,000-$120,000)   

German carmaker Porsche has just announced the results of their second film competition, in which they asked 10 filmmakers to represent the theme of 'Thrilling Contradictions' in a 60-second video.The winner was Ross Cohen, who at 30 years old is already known as producer and director of the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival awarded film, Willowbrook, as well as lauded shorts Last Day and Tarantula Moonrocket -- the last two of which he also wrote.For the Porsche contest, Cohen turned in a beautiful piece called 'Fire and Ice' that uses some simple reverse work to let us see a Panamera rising up from a block of ice manipulated by a blow torch.His prize includes a trip to the Chicago International Film Festival, and the winning piece being shown as a pre-movie advertisement in cinemas.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

And yes, that means not just the upcoming 918 Spyder and the 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, but also upcoming versions of the Cayenne, and even the 'sacred' mid or rear-engine sports cars — the 911, Boxster, and Cayman.The Panamera S E-Hybrid, which Porsche says is the first luxury plug-in hybrid (other than the Fisker Karma) was first shown at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show and will go on sale toward the end of this year, with a sticker price of US$99,975 (AU$100,275).That system can run the vehicle on electric power alone for 35km, yet it has a combined output of 310kW and 589Nm of torque and can reach 96km/h in 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 269km/h.Cayenne next... and 918 Spyder.On the way next is a version of the Cayenne, which will continue to also use the supercharged V6, and the 918 Spyder, which as we reported earlier this week will make a phenomenal 653kW and can get to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds (or a top speed of more than 340km/h).In that next-generation technology, you can expect a battery pack that's more energy dense (meaning it might have fewer package sacrifices, or more capability for electric-only operation), while the brand is also developing an inductive charging system that may be used by the time it hits the market.Next-generation plug-in hybrids, Autocar notes, will include map data, to help the systems anticipate when to use engine stop-start, when to coast, and when to use more electric assist—all for even better range and fuel-efficiency.Could it be repurposed for Bentley? According to Edmunds, the hybrid powertrain for the next-generation Porsche hybrid module would be built on the Volkswagen Group's MSB platform architecture, which will debut in the 2016 Panamera. And since Bentley will be using this same platform, its cars are fair game, too—if, that is, the system can be configured to fit the British ultra-luxury marque's strong-and-smooth driving personality.The early reports come via members of the press who were invited to a Panamera Hybrid Technology workshop.Porsche isn't the only automaker to be angling toward a far greater performance hybrid lineup in a few years. Mercedes-Benz performance division AMG also has long-term plans to offer hybrid performance models, whereas Porsche's VW Group cousin, Audi, may have some hybrid models yet plans to emphasise the performance potential of diesel technology in future sports cars.www.motorauthority.com

Speak to any motoring journalist and you will find they all love driving the big Porsche Panamera sports hatch. But they have differing opinions on the styling, many hate it, a few like it, but I can’t say I know one who really loves it. Always happy to listen to owners – and even to us journos if need be – Porsche has given the Panamera a major makeover. This is far more than simply a facelift and tail-tuck. The changes to the rear in particular give it a much more refined look than the somewhat clumsy original. We like the look that has been achieved by the wider rear windscreen and a revised bootlid. At the front, Panamera has a bigger, bolder air intake and the shape of the headlights has been altered. Most important of all, the windscreen has a sharper angle. This time the Panamera looks less like a bulked up 911 and more like a luxurious sports sedan in its own right. These days when you’re launching a new upmarket model you don’t do so at a motor show in Europe or the USA. No, you go the Shanghai Motor Show to give yourself first crack at the world’s largest car market. Interestingly, Porsche is introducing the world’s first upmarket plug-in hybrid as part of its push in the second-generation Panamera. As well as the standard car, Porsche is also introducing an extended-wheelbase version. These stretched models are vitally important to sales in China as very few luxury cars are ever driven by their owners – which sounds strange to us Aussies. Indeed, Porsche Australia knows its customers well, so the extended wheelbase Panamera will not be offered in Australia. However, never say never. The gen-two Panamera S E-Hybrid has a more powerful electric motor, a higher-performance battery that supplies more energy and, just as importantly the ability to be plugged in for charging externally from the electrical grid. The electric drive produces 70 kW, which is more than double the power of the previous model’s electric motor. It gets its power from a newly developed lithium-ion battery, which at 9.4 kWh has over five times the energy capacity of the previous nickel metal hydride battery. Amazingly, the previous model’s official European fuel consumption figure of 7.1 litres per hundred kilometres has been reduced to just litres per hundred. The acceleration time from zero to 100 km/h is shortened by half a second to 5.5 seconds. Porsche Panamera is taking part in the engine downsizing technology that’s sweeping Europe. A V6 engine with 3.0 litres displacement and bi-turbo charging replaces the previous 4.8-litre V8 engine in the Panamera S and Panamera 4S. This powerplant has 15kW more power and 20Nm more torque, with a maximum torque of 520Nm available over a very broad range of engine speeds. Most Panamera models are equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch PDK. An eight-speed automatic Tiptronic S is standard in the Panamera Diesel and Panamera S E-Hybrid. The second-generation Porsche Panamera will be sold in Australia from late July, pricing has yet to be confirmed.  

It shows the ugly duckling of the Porsche parade, the four-door Panamera, is finally being done right. It's taken the arrival of a Panamera wagon to set the car straight, adding the beef and balance that the car needs to win the hearts of performance fans around the world.Porsche has done the job with its Sport Turismo concept at the Paris show, which is the start of a taster tour to see if it should be put into full-scale production. Even if it gets a go-ahead it will be at least three years before it hits the road, but the signs are already promising.Porsche has equipped the concept with one of its latest plug-in hybrid power packs - similar to the one I drove and liked this week in an Audi A1 prototype - and promises the system will move quickly through the range after providing the motivation for its upcoming 918 supercar."But it's still just a study. Until a decision is taken on whether to build it," the head of Porsche Cars Australia, Michael Winkler, tells Carsguide. "Really, it depends on the public reaction."The preview of the Sport Turismo, in the same week as a Carsguide first drive in the latest Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake, proves that European luxury brands still see solid sales potential in stylish wagons despite the worldwide dominance of family-focussed SUVs.The new Porsche actually trumps the Shooting Brake on visual impact and does not have the unfortunate visual link to the Hyundai i40 wagon already on the road in Australia. But Porsche is not giving a green light to the Sport Turismo. Yet, anyway."Any new car is a risk. There is a real dissecting of the market for certain needs. We have to see if this car could fulfil a need," says Winkler. 

Changes coming to the four- door speed machine are minor, but there headlamps change shape and  pick up larger LED running lights.

The Panamera S Hybrid will make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next month  - but Australian Porsche dealers are already taking orders, with a starting pricetag from $298,300.That asking price slots it into the range as the second most-expensive model behind the all-wheel drive Turbo, but the price could come down if the Australian arm of the company puts the Michelin tyres on as standard.Porsche Cars Australia spokesman Paul Ellis says the hybrid could become the third-most expensive Panamera if luxury car tax fuel-efficiency exemptions come into play."Anyone who orders the car with the Michelin low-resistance tyres is subject to getting that car as much as $6000 cheaper with the Michelins. We're currently investigating if we can make those tyres standard for the Australian market, therefore the car would be priced more favourably because it comes in as standard under seven litres per 100km, we estimate there's a potential price difference of $6000 which is worth pursuing." he says.The new Panamera S Hybrid has the same basic drivetrain as the Cayenne hybrid SUV, producing  279kW - 245kW from the supercharged three-litre V6 and the rest from the electic motor and battery system.There's a theoretical torque figure of 580Nm (440Nm from the V6 and 300Nm from the electrical engine, as per the Cayenne hybrid) with the assistance of the electric motor, although Porsche says hybrid drivetrain torque figures are difficult to quantify in total.The hybrid's fuel consumption claim (in European spec) of 6.8 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 159 g/km, achieved with the Porsche petrol-electric hybrid system and Panamera-specific Michelin low rolling-resistance tyres.Standard rubber ups the number to 7.1 litres per 100km and emissions of 167 g/km of CO2, but even on standard tyres it's still the most frugal Porsche yet.The Panamera S Hybrid is far from a green slug, claiming 0-100km/h in six seconds and a 270 km/h top speed, with the ability to cover up to 2km in full electric mode at speeds up to 85 km/h.Unlike other petrol-electric hybrids, the electric motor operates as a generator and a starter, but the Porsche employs a separating clutch between the hybrid unit (which includes the nickel metal hydride battery) and the petrol engine, allowing the conventional eight-speed automatic transmission to be retained.Further similarities to the Cayenne drivetrain range are likely some time next year, with Porsche also working on a diesel Panamera model using the 176kW/550Nm three-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder (which boasts 7.4l/100km in the SUV), but there's no firm timeframe on its arrival.