Obviously disgruntled with the limelight being stolen by Mercedes-Benz and its gorgeous CLS Shooting Brake, Porsche has unveiled its own take on the concept in the shape of the Panamera Sport Turismo. It's billed as a study of next generation hybrid drive and future design directions, but you can bet your bottom dollar this 'Sports Car of Tomorrow' will be rivalling the Mercedes in the showroom in the not too distant future.
Exterior
Amazing. Where the regular Panamera could be compared to the hunchback from a famous Parisian Cathedral this Sport Turismo concept is simply stunning. If we thought we wanted a CLS Shooting Brake we were wrong; the Porsche is the new king of that particular hill. It's 4,950mm long, 1,990mm wide and 1,401mm tall - all within millimetres of a production Panamera, and there's no doubt that with the short overhangs it's proportionately very similar.
But there's more aggression, the front 'C-Blades' housing the indicators and side lights in the front air dam are crowned by the new four-point LED headlights. On the tailgate, adorned with an adaptive carbon spoiler, the single light bar flows into 991-style brake lights and sits above an Acid Green Sport Turismo badge. The same colour is used for the brake callipers hiding behind the bi-colour rims with their motorsport inspired hub-lockers. The bodywork has no ornamentation - notice the lack of mirrors and flush handles - and is finished in a new Liquid Metal Blue paint.
In short, never has the thought of going green been quite so cool.
Interior
Purists get ready; gone are the traditional trio of distinct and deeply cowled instrument faces, replaced instead with a large multifunction TFT screen. We're sure Porsche hasn't completely forgotten its heritage though so expect to be able to recreate that very layout. Certainly the screen is said to be able to show any information required and includes an Acid Green power meter for the hybrid drivetrain. Monitors to the side display the information being fed from the rear view cameras in the side air outlets.
The 'as little as possible and as much as necessary' mantra certainly rings true in there though - in typical concept car form it's the very definition of minimalist. We don't think we're being too cynical to suggest that the form, rather than the detailing, might just be the same as what you'll find in the next generation Panamera. Regardless it's as good looking as the exterior, and continues the firm's penchant for ascending centre consoles - though this one has a multifunction touch control for the e-hybrid and other car functions.
Mechanicals
So the Panamera still uses the same (Audi-based, whisper it) 333hp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine at its heart, it has not even been upgraded for this concept model. However, the 95hp (70kW) electric motor has, making around twice as much power as the unit in the Cayenne S and Panamera S Hybrid models. The result is a combined peak output of 416hp and a 0-62mph time of less than six seconds.
But this is one Porsche that is designed to default to electric drive from the off, at speeds of up to 80mph - though we doubt it'll manage its supposed 18+ miles of range at such speeds. It'll also struggle to hit its claimed 80mpg average fuel economy if you try and explore its speed and acceleration capabilities, while CO2 emissions will undoubtedly rise from the published 82g/km. Yup, 82g/km. Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo as a company car anyone?
It's all achieved thanks to the car's plug-in hybrid status. The lithium ion battery offers better performance than a conventional nickel-hydride item despite the similar dimensions. Drivers can deactivate the electric drive at the touch of a steering wheel button or even intensify the charge process in Hybrid mode. Plug in charging is taken care of by a universal charger installed in your garage with a standard plug, and a full refresh should be completed within 2.5 hours.
Anything else?
The Sport Turismo also comes with some pretty cool hi-tech gadgetry, including online services and smartphone apps to control and monitor the vehicle's information. Everything from remote charging and monitoring to pre-conditioning the interior using the climate control can be taken care of at the touch of an iPhone button.
Oh, and did we mention we'd really quite like one? Soon. Please. In Liquid Metal Blue with the Acid Green...
