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18th
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At the Paris Auto Show last fall, the public was graced with the presence of a Porsche that sets out to prove function and fun can live as one in a vehicle. How so? Enter the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo.
While the name may be long, the departure from everything that is Porsche is not - which is a fabulous thing. First of all, anyone who took issue with the Panamera's rear will delight in the fact that the Sport Turismo sports a new rear that, may we say, is quite becoming. Beefier and bigger, the rear swings the Panamera into wagon-looking territory, something we wholeheartedly encourage.
And, of course, the most noticeable difference is the fact that this Porsche has no sideview mirrors. Nope, none at all. How is that possible, you ask? Well, instead Porsche has outfitted the Panamera Sport Turismo with cameras in each of its side air outlets and their images are displayed in digital gauges behind the steering wheel.
Jumping on the plug-in hybrid bandwagon (but in a way only Porsche can) the Panamera Sport Turismo features a supercharged 3.0L V6 engine as well as a high-torque electric motor. Combined, the two push out 416 hp and will push the Panamera from 0 to 100 km in under 6 seconds. The Sport Turismo can travel up to 30km on battery power alone. And with the Panamera's compact universal charging device, the fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery can be charged in 2.5 hours or less.
The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo can be driven in three different modes: full electric, full gas or a combination of the two. On battery alone, the Sport Turismo can reach speeds of 130km/h. When driving in hybrid mode, the battery acts as an extra boost for more power, and the Panamera Sport Turismo will switch its gas engine off in “coasting” mode to help conserve gas and lower emissions. The Panamera Sport Turismo recovers energy to recharge its own battery when driving.
Technology aside, from a design standpoint, the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Concept is undeniably a product of the Stuttgart powerhouse. Traditional Porsche lines abound, as does the familiar-looking Panamera mug, save for brand new 4-point LED headlights. With an updated rear, the Sport Turismo is quite the looker.
Inside, Porsche has taken futuristic to a new level with the Panamera Sport Turismo's TFT (thin-film transistor) display in place of traditional gauges. All information pertaining to the car is accessible, from navigation to rev counter. Touching the TFT screen will activate the e-hybrid system and the display and surrounding gauges will turn green.
While the middle console in the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Concept follows the traditional shape and layout we've come to recognize in the German make, that's where the similarities end. Replacing buttons is a touchscreen where drivers control everything from climate control to the PCM (Porsche Communication Management) functions.
Futuristic, functional and sure to be fun to pilot, the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is a study in design and automotive engineering, and we can't wait to see it in on the road, should it come...
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While the name may be long, the departure from everything that is Porsche is not - which is a fabulous thing. First of all, anyone who took issue with the Panamera's rear will delight in the fact that the Sport Turismo sports a new rear that, may we say, is quite becoming. Beefier and bigger, the rear swings the Panamera into wagon-looking territory, something we wholeheartedly encourage.
And, of course, the most noticeable difference is the fact that this Porsche has no sideview mirrors. Nope, none at all. How is that possible, you ask? Well, instead Porsche has outfitted the Panamera Sport Turismo with cameras in each of its side air outlets and their images are displayed in digital gauges behind the steering wheel.
Jumping on the plug-in hybrid bandwagon (but in a way only Porsche can) the Panamera Sport Turismo features a supercharged 3.0L V6 engine as well as a high-torque electric motor. Combined, the two push out 416 hp and will push the Panamera from 0 to 100 km in under 6 seconds. The Sport Turismo can travel up to 30km on battery power alone. And with the Panamera's compact universal charging device, the fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery can be charged in 2.5 hours or less.
The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo can be driven in three different modes: full electric, full gas or a combination of the two. On battery alone, the Sport Turismo can reach speeds of 130km/h. When driving in hybrid mode, the battery acts as an extra boost for more power, and the Panamera Sport Turismo will switch its gas engine off in “coasting” mode to help conserve gas and lower emissions. The Panamera Sport Turismo recovers energy to recharge its own battery when driving.
Technology aside, from a design standpoint, the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Concept is undeniably a product of the Stuttgart powerhouse. Traditional Porsche lines abound, as does the familiar-looking Panamera mug, save for brand new 4-point LED headlights. With an updated rear, the Sport Turismo is quite the looker.
Inside, Porsche has taken futuristic to a new level with the Panamera Sport Turismo's TFT (thin-film transistor) display in place of traditional gauges. All information pertaining to the car is accessible, from navigation to rev counter. Touching the TFT screen will activate the e-hybrid system and the display and surrounding gauges will turn green.
While the middle console in the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Concept follows the traditional shape and layout we've come to recognize in the German make, that's where the similarities end. Replacing buttons is a touchscreen where drivers control everything from climate control to the PCM (Porsche Communication Management) functions.
Futuristic, functional and sure to be fun to pilot, the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is a study in design and automotive engineering, and we can't wait to see it in on the road, should it come...
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| Photo: Porsche |