When you think of a hybrid sedan, pedestrian cars like a Toyota Prius or a Hyundai Elantra will likely come to mind. What if I told you that there is a hybrid sedan currently on the market that holds the Nurburgring record for the fastest hybrid sedan?
If you guessed that it was a German car, you would be correct. You would be doubly correct if you also guessed that it was a Porsche. Back in July, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid set a record of 7 minutes and 24.17 seconds with Porsche development driver and Nurburgring veteran Lars Kern at the wheel. Kern reached a top speed of 190 mph, just short of the car’s 202 mph official top speed.
Porsche
The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is jaw-dropping from the factory
The Panamera was completely stock other than a racing seat and a roll cage. From the factory, this $226,500 super sedan is powered by a 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 engine putting out 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed PDK transmission. The electric motor, powered by a 25.9 kWh battery, adds an additional 187 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque for a blistering total of 771 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque.
Its superior handling capability is helped by the standard all-wheel-drive system, rear-axle steering for more stability at high speeds, and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus which includes an electronically controlled rear differential lock.
Porsche
The Active Ride chassis also contributes to better track performance by managing the car’s pitch and roll through tight turns.
Porsche has a penchant for setting Nurburgring records
This isn’t the only electrified Porsche with a Nurburgring record either. Earlier this year, the all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo GT set a track record for the fastest sedan at 7 minutes and 7.55 seconds.
Porsche
The world needs more performance sedans
The Panamera itself is the best of both worlds for those who want the performance of a sports car with enough room to take the kids to school. The combination of a rowdy V8 with a small electric motor beefs up the already jaw-dropping performance of the gasoline engine while simultaneously saving a bit of gas on the side.
Four-door performance cars need to make a mainstream resurgence. For too long we have balked at anything with more than two doors for reasons relating to either extra weight or aesthetics. I say that the addition of electric motors has solved the former issue, while the curviness of the Panamera has solved the latter. Besides, you’ll never be late to a family anniversary with 771 horsepower under the hood.
About the author
Gabriel Ionica
Senior Editor, Autoblog