Porsche used last week’s 2016 Vienna Motor Symposium to release the first details on a new twin-turbocharged V-8 engine destined for the next-generation Panamera Turbo.

Porsche spearheaded the development of the engine which in various forms will be used across the Volkswagen Group.

The engine replaces the twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V-8 currently employed by Porsche and will initially produce approximately 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. That’s already close to the 570 hp and 590 lb-ft that the previous 4.8-liter V-8 produces in its most potent setting.

More power, less consumption

But that’s not all. Porsche boasts its new engine will also be much more efficient. The German firm is keeping most details close to its chest for now but Car and Driver reports cylinder deactivation is one of the key technologies used to improve efficiency. The engine is also said to be compatible with hybrid technology, meaning we could see more V-8-equipped hybrids from Porsche in the near future (the last was the 918 Spyder hypercar), and in some applications the engine will allegedly be paired with a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.

No displacement was mentioned but Car and Driver reports the engine is loosely related to Audi’s new turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that debuted in the latest S4. This suggests the engine might be a modular design with the two extra cylinders bringing displacement up to 4.0 liters, a key cutoff for China tax rules.

Stay tuned for more details as we approach the debut of Porsche's second-generation Panamera at this September's 2016 Paris Auto Show. And for more from the Vienna Motor Symposium, head to our dedicated hub.

_______________________________________

Follow Motor Authority on FacebookTwitter and YouTube.