Continuing the success story of Porsche’s four-door Gran Turismo, the German brand is launching a hybrid version of the Panamera S. The new hybrid vehicle is starting a new chapter Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart’s Porsche Intelligent Performance and will have its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Just like the Cayenne S Hybrid, featured at last year’s edition of the show, the Panamera S Hybrid will be powered by a combination of a three litre V6 compressor engine and an electric motor. Together they deliver a total of 380 of horsepower while consuming 6.8 l of fuel per 100 km, which corresponds to 159 g of CO2 per km. The Panamera S Hybrid isn’t the most economical Porsche of all time but these values put it ahead of all full hybrid production vehicles in its class.

These values are achieved thanks to the use of Michelin’s even lower rolling resistance all season tyres developed specially for the Panamera, which are available as an option. Still, with the standard tyres the new hybrid model from Porsche has an average consumption of 7.1l/km, with CO2 emissions of 167 g/km.

Performance makes also part of the vocabulary of the new hybrid from Porsche. The Panamera S Hybrid is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds and to reach a top speed of 270 km/h.

The hybrid Panamera can drive solely on electric energy for about two kilometers at a maximum speed of 85 km/h. The hybrid drive system featuring in the Panamera S Hybrid is the only in the world that is able to develop additional consumption reserves thanks to so-called "sailing" on motorways and main roads. This technology enables the system to disengage and switch off the combustion engine at speeds of up to 165 km/h during phases when no power is being delivered by the combustion engine.

Both the combustion and the electric engines can power the Panamera S Hybrid either alone or in combination. In the case of the electric motor it also operates as a starter and as a generator. Together with the decoupler it forms the compact hybrid module located between the combustion engine and the transmission. The electrical energy recovered from braking and driving is stored on the nickel metal hydride battery (NiMh) which is connected to the electric motor. The hybrid system is combined with the eight-speed Tiptronic S.

For the hybrid version Porsche has included as standard the adaptive air suspension including the adaptive shock-absorber system with PASM, with Servotronic and a rear wiper.

The new Panamera S Hybrid will reach the market on June 2011 with a price tag of 106,185 Euros in Germany, including VAT and country-specific equipment.