Porsche's all-new Panamera made a big splash yesterday with a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 rated at 550 horsepower headlining the changes to what looks to be a more stylish take on a four-door Porsche.
Yet Motor Trend, who was in Germany for the Panamera's debut, says that there's more to come thanks to trickle-down technology first seen in the spectacular 918 Spyder hypercar. The buff book suggests that a 700-horsepower version of the Panamera is on its way with a hybrid powertrain combining the range-topping Panamera's V-8 with an electric motor.
MT speculates that the model could be called the Panamera Turbo S Hybrid since Porsche generally reserves Turbo S nomenclature for the top-rung versions of its lineup.
The 918 Spyder featured a 4.6-liter V-8 mated two a pair of electric motors that help it sprint to 60 mph from a stop in just 2.8 seconds.
Porsche has offered a hybrid version of its Panamera for quite some time, with the current Panamera S E-Hybrid delivering 416 horsepower between its 3.0-liter V-6 and a 95-hp electric motor. The automaker has not yet announced a new hybrid version of the Panamera, but one has been spotted testing. Perhaps it boasts more than an eco-friendly outlook on life?
Look for the Panamera to hit the market in Europe late this year, with American market sales next January.