Porsche has unveiled the refreshed Panamera, showcasing new technology, design tweaks and a reworked, more efficient hybrid system. There's also a new Turbo E-Hybrid version, which sits between the existing 4S E-Hybrid and the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid.
Focus on hybrid power
Unsurprisingly, given the emissions-based Irish taxation, hybrid versions of the Panamera are the most popular choices in Ireland, and Porsche has recognised that with its tweaks to the Panamera's hybrid system. As with the Cayenne, the battery has been increased in size quite dramatically, taking it to 25.9kWh. That means there's an electric-only range of up to 91km, according to the official economy test.
Whether that proves realistic remains to be seen, but it does mean greater efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. Even with a V8 engine on board, the data suggests emissions of around 30g/km.
And Porsche says drivers will be able to use electric power more of the time, thanks to a more powerful, 190hp electric motor, which reduces the need for the petrol engine - be it a V6 or a V8 - to step in and help out.
New Turbo E-Hybrid
Speaking of V8 engines, Porsche has expanded the Panamera engine range with a new Turbo E-Hybrid option, which will sit below the Turbo S E-Hybrid in the line-up. Combining a 4.0-litre V8 engine with the aforementioned 190hp motor, it produces 680hp in total and sends 930Nm of torque to all four wheels via its eight-speed automatic gearbox. That equates to a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h, which is the sort of performance usually reserved for supercars.
Yet this is not the range-topping Panamera we're talking about, and we expect the Turbo S E-Hybrid to be even more potent.
For those seeking a little less power, however, Porsche is expected to retain the V6 'base' Panamera, as well as the all-wheel-drive Panamera 4 and 4S models, not to mention their E-Hybrid siblings.
Updated cabin
Inside, Porsche has tweaked the Panamera's cabin with some fresh technology that's also taken straight from the Cayenne's copybook. Like the big 4x4, the Panamera comes with a new, all-digital instrument cluster from the Taycan, and it gets a new gear selector on the dashboard. That, in turn, has freed up space for a new centre console design with fresh climate control switchgear.
The other major addition is the optional passenger display, which is also lifted from the latest Cayenne. The screen provides all the usual infotainment displays, but it also adds the option of video streaming on the move, offering the kind of entertainment usually only available in the rear. To achieve this without distracting the driver, the screen is designed so only the passenger can see it.
Modified design
If the internal tweaks are minor, they've got nothing on the external revamp. The Panamera's basic shape is unchanged, but Porsche has fiddled with the nose, adding a new air intake in the bumper and tweaking the window line.
Turbo models, including the Turbo E-Hybrid and Turbo S E-Hybrid, are also being further marked out by their new 'Turbonite' accents. A new colour that's a twist on classic gunmetal, the Turbonite appears on the bumpers, window surrounds and badges of Turbo models, helping them to stand out from the other variants in the range.
Suspension tweaks
Changes have been made under the skin, too, and Porsche has played with the Panamera's suspension to improve its ride and handling. The basic air suspension system has been updated to offer greater differentiation between its stiffest and softest settings, providing greater breadth of capability, but the Porsche Active Ride (PAR) suspension system is the big news.
With bespoke shock absorbers, cars fitted with the PAR system will be able to respond to bumps more rapidly, and the suspension will keep the body flat at all times, whether the car is accelerating, braking or cornering. By moving the car to counter any movement, the system can effectively 'lean' into corners or counteract the 'nosedive' effect of braking, helping the Panamera to feel more stable.
Arriving next year
Porsche hasn't yet announced prices for the Panamera in Ireland, but we are expecting to see a small increase on the existing starting price of €112,530. As before, both hatchback and estate versions of the Panamera are expected to go on sale, with the Sport Turismo commanding a small premium. The first European deliveries are pencilled in for March 2024.