Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid launches with 456bhp and a £79,715 price tag

The Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid – a plug-in hybrid version of the new Panamera – launches ahead of a Paris Motor Show debut and costs £79,715.

It’s just a few months since the new Porsche Panamera launched with a choice of Panamera 4S, Diesel S and Turbo. But now we get the plug-in hybrid take on the new Panamera – the 2017 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.

Interestingly, despite delivering a drivetrain that’s an improvement on the outgoing S E-Hybrid, it’s actually going to cost less and is, for now, the new entry-level Panamera.

In all the ways that matter, the plug-in Panamera delivers the same raft of updates the rest of the Panamera has – including much better looks, a nicer interior and a new platform – but also offers an impressive hybrid powertrain which has been much improved.

The improvements means the engine – a 321bhp twin-turbo 2.9 litre V6 – works in tandem with the electric motor – delivering an extra 134bhp – from the second you tickle the throttle, delivering an optimised blend of ICE and Electric power all the time, driving it through a eight-speed dual-clutch PDK to all four wheels.

As you’d expect, the E-Hybrid has a choice of driving modes,with E-Power using just the electric motor, E-Charge boosting the batteries with the engine, E-Hold to maintain battery power for later and Hybrid Auto to just sort things as needed. That’s all in addition to Sport and Sport Plus mode for livelier driving.

It all adds up to a more impressive hybrid Panamera, with a powertrain using the same hybrid strategy as the 918 Spyder, delivering electric power from the off and impressive performance of 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 173mph.

The hybrid Panamera also comes with official economy of 113mpg (probably around 40mpg in the real world on average), emissions of just 56g/km (for impressive BIK rates) and a full charge for a 31 mile range (probably around 20 miles in the real world) in about 5.8 hours from a normal socket (or 3.5 hours if you opt for the optional 7.2kW charger).

The Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is now on sale at Porsche’s UK dealers – costing from £79,715 – and will get its public debut – alongside the Panamera Sport Turismo – at the Paris Motor Show. First UK customer cars aren’t expected until Q3 2017, although German buyers will start getting cars in April.