Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Is An Ultra-Frugal E-Sleeper

Visitors to the 2016 Paris Auto Show can check out the entire Porsche Panamera family, from the latest generation, but one particular model stands out: the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.

To the untrained eye, it might look like the rest of the lineup, but if you look closer you will notice some minor touches made to the new metal, signaling the addition of an electric motor that makes 136 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque.

This works in conjunction with a newly developed 2.9-liter biturbo V6 to provide a combined output of 462 HP and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, paired to a dual-clutch PDK gearbox with eight gears. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 4.6 seconds and top speed sits at 278 km/h (173 mph), but what mostly impressive about the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is that it can do all this while burning just 2.5 lt/100 km (94 mpg US), in the NEDC cycle, and emit 56 g/km of CO2.

Charging the 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery takes 5.8 hours or 3.6 hours with the optional 7.2 kW on-board charger and 230-Volt, 32-Amper connection. Prices for the frugal, yet sporty, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid kick off from €107,553 ($120,694) in Germany, where the automaker has already started taking orders, with the first deliveries expected to commence next spring. The vehicle is due for the North American market in summer 2017.