SECTOR: Luxury   PRICE: €110,409   FUEL: 3.1l/100km   CO2: 71g/km

Porsche’s first plug-in hybrid drivetrain forms part of the Volkswagen Group’s wider electromobility plans, which will eventually offer a part or fully-electric model in every sector in which it competes.

The Panamera, which sits in a fleet-heavy market sector, offers a glimpse of some of the most advanced hybrid technology available within the Group’s portfolio, a preview of the features which could be available in smaller models in the coming years. So it’s really important, despite the small volumes.

Porsche has had a hybrid Panamera before, but the S E-Hybrid makes better use of its electric power. The motor is more powerful, producing 95bhp, and its new lithium-ion battery allows the car to drive 36km without using any fuel. For the electric motor’s modest power output, it doesn’t feel overwhelmed by the car’s weight and can reach 135kph. That final detail means it’s suitable for drivers with short, high speed, commutes as well as urban ones.

Depress the throttle further and the motor gets a helping hand from a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine, with which it shares its eight-speed PDK gearbox. Programmed to shift into as high a gear as possible while cruising and capable of decoupling the engine and coasting under low loads, it allows the direct-injection engine to achieve palatable economy of around 8l/100km under smooth driving. Not enough to rival a Toyota Prius, but impressive for a heavy performance car.

Unusually, the engine can also fully charge the hybrid system battery without the aid of an external power source. From flat, this takes around 70km to recharge, which means drivers beginning and ending a journey on urban roads can avoid any exhaust emissions in populated areas. The downside is that this also puts a substantial dent in the Panamera’s fuel economy.  

As does the car’s alter-ego. In Sport mode, the combustion engine and electric motor are combined to produce 416hp – enough to propel its 2.1 tonnes to 62mph in a mind-bending 5.5 seconds. The weight is noticeable while cornering but, for a grand tourer, grip and stability are ample.

There’s very little to adjust to compared to the diesel version. Visual modifications are limited to lime green highlights on the brakes, badges and clocks – which feature a power gauge where the speedometer would usually be found – and the only adjustment to be made is getting used to plugging it in at the end of the day to maximise the available economy.

But Porsche isn’t alone here. Tesla has fleet ambitions for the similarly-priced Model S, which can travel much further on battery power. Likewise, Mercedes-Benz will soon have a plug-in hybrid S-Class competing in this sector, adding similar tax efficiencies to a more practical, comfortable luxury car.

The S E-Hybrid’s high price, and the low volumes of the sector in which it competes, won’t make this a common sight. But heavy incentives for plug-in drivetrains mean this tax-efficient luxury car offers an interesting alternative to the default diesel for those with the right kind of commute.

Verdict:

There are greener hybrids, but the Panamera has a role to play in reducing inner-city smog for drivers who would otherwise default to the sector’s big-selling diesels.