Porsche Panamera 4S

In the Panamera lineup today, you won’t find a separate 4S with a V8 engine. The matter is simpler than it looks. The materials described refer to the 4S E-Hybrid version, where a 2.9-liter gasoline V6 works together with an electric unit, and the confusion likely stems from the close proximity of more powerful variants. After all, the GTS has a twin-turbo V8, while the Turbo E-Hybrid versions pair an eight-cylinder engine with hybrid drive. So a perfectly fair question remains: does the loss of two cylinders really rob the 4S of its sporting temperament, given that the electrified powertrain is meant to reconcile strong performance with luxury comfort?

With 536 bhp and around 750 Nm, the 4S E-Hybrid sends more power to the road than the 493 bhp GTS, via an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. That gives this large Panamera the urgency expected of a sports model and shows why cylinder count tells only part of the story. The road will reveal whether the powertrain, body control and luxury comfort work together as convincingly as the figures suggest.

Sharp steering, quick responses and assured body control give this large four-door its distinctive place in the market. The 4S E-Hybrid blends genuine sporting character with the comfort expected of a luxury saloon, without making its occupants suffer for the pace. Figures are only part of the case, however. The performance test will show whether the Panamera can preserve that balance on the road.

The test car reached 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, while retaining the ability to run on electric power alone. That brisk performance rather undermines the idea that hybrid power inevitably dulls a car. Exact figures and character vary by specification and market, while everyday appeal depends largely on access to charging and how often the driver uses the electric side of the powertrain.

It all starts at the socket. The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid, and the claimed range of roughly 28 miles on electric power alone might well cover a quiet daily commute; the literature also mentions a new Level 2 charger intended for the plug-in variants. Without regular charging, things become less interesting. The system pairing a petrol V6 with an electric motor still preserves the Panamera’s sportily luxurious character, but in that scenario its practical side is far harder to exploit.