E-Zine October 2017

New 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

Porsche is expanding its hybrid range by adding a powerful
plug-in hybrid to the Panamera Sport Turismo model line.
Combining the 4.0-liter V8 engine from the Panamera Turbo
Sport Turismo with an electric motor, the 2018 Panamera
Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo delivers a total output of 680
hp and 626 lb.-ft. of torque, making it one of the most powerful
production vehicles Porsche has ever made.
But it is not just power that makes the Panamera Turbo S EHybrid
Sport Turismo unique in its segment. Its concept,
including a large tailgate, low loading edge, increased luggage
compartment volume and seating for five means that the new
flagship of the model line offers a high degree of everyday
practicality.
Like the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid sedan, the Panamera
Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo offers a compelling
demonstration of the performance advantages of hybrid
technology. The new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport
Turismo utilizes a boost strategy derived from the 918 Spyder
and combines a 136 hp electric motor with a 550 hp twin-turbo
V8 engine. Total output of the combined systems is 680 horsepower
and 626 lb.-ft. of torque.
The decoupler installed in the Porsche hybrid module is
actuated electromechanically by an electric clutch actuator
(ECA), just like in the other current Panamera hybrid models.
This ensures quick response and exceptional comfort. Like
other Panamera models, the quick-shifting eight-speed
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission
sends power to the standard active all-wheel drive system
with Porsche Traction Management (PTM).
The E-performance powertrain allows the vehicle to sprint
from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds and complete
the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds. The top track speed is 192
mph.
The electric motor is powered via a liquid-cooled lithium-ion
battery with an energy capacity of 14.1 kWh. The high-voltage
battery takes 12 hours to fully charge via a common 120 V, 10
amp connection. If the optional 7.2 kW on-board charger is
utilized instead of the standard 3.6 kW unit, the charging time
decreases to less than three hours with a 240 V, 40 amp
connection. Charging can also be initiated using a timer via
Porsche Communication Management (PCM) or the Porsche
Connect app (for smartphones and Apple Watch).
Additionally, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is fitted with
auxiliary air conditioning to cool or heat the passenger
compartment prior to driving.
The Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo offers all of the
innovations of the second generation Panamera. These
include the digitalized Porsche Advanced Cockpit, groundbreaking
assistance system options such as Porsche
InnoDrive including adaptive cruise control and optional rearaxle
steering. At the top of the vehicle, the roof extends into
an adaptive spoiler. The angle of the roof spoiler is set in three
stages depending on the driving situation and selected vehicle
settings, and can generate an additional downforce on the
rear axle. In normal driving, the aerodynamic guide element –
a central system component of Porsche Active Aerodynamics
(PAA) – stays in its retracted position with an angle of minus
seven degrees, which reduces drag and thus optimizes fuel
consumption.

GT2 RS is the fastest Porsche 911 model of all time with 6:47.3 lap time

Porsche set a new lap record for street legal sports cars on
the 12.8 mile (20.6 kilometer) Nürburgring-Nordschleife with
the 2018 911 GT2 RS. Recorded and officially timed on
September 20th, the best lap time of 6:47.3 minutes even
surpassed internal expectations.
Frank-Steffen Walliser, Head of Motorsport and GT Cars for
Porsche AG, said “At the start of the development process, we
set ourselves a lap time target for the GT2 RS of less than 7
minutes and 5 seconds. The credit for beating this target by
17.7 seconds goes to our development engineers, mechanics
and drivers, who demonstrated an exceptionally strong team
performance. This result makes it official: The GT2 RS is not
only the most powerful, but also the fastest 911 model ever
built.”
The record lap was not just a single occurrence: Lars Kern of
Germany and Nick Tandy from Great Britain broke the
previous record for street legal sports cars (6:52.01 minutes)
immediately and proceeded to lap the track in under 6:50
minutes on five separate laps.
Andreas Preuninger, Director of the GT model line, stated,
“It’s not just the record time achieved by the GT2 RS that
demonstrates the vehicle’s caliber, but also the consistency of
performance in every lap. We’re particularly proud of the fact
that this was achieved with two different vehicles and two
different drivers, as it underscores the ability of the GT2 RS to
reproduce the record over and over again.”
Porsche factory driver Nick Tandy traveled directly from the
six-hour race in Austin, Texas, to the Ring and adapted from
driving the Le Mans prototype Porsche 919 Hybrid to the 700
hp 911 GT2 RS fitted with standard N-spec Michelin Pilot
Sport Cup 2 tires in impressive fashion. Lars Kern, Porsche
test driver by trade and a passionate race car driver in his own
right, was the one to set the fastest final time. In addition to
the Carrera Cup Australia, Kern regularly competes in the
German VLN endurance racing championship on the
Nürburgring and knows the Nordschleife like the back of his
hand. The ultimate record lap began under ideal track
conditions at 7:11 p.m. local time and ended 6:47.3 minutes
later. The average speed on the 12.8 mile (20.6 kilometer) lap
was 114.4 miles per hour.
The fastest and most powerful road-going 911 celebrated its
world premiere at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood, Great
Britain. The heart of the high-performance sports car is a twin
turbo flat-six engine producing 700 horsepower. This enables
the two-seater weighing 3,241 pounds to accelerate from 0 to
60 miles per hour in 2.7 seconds. The top track speed of the
rear-wheel drive Coupé is 211 miles per hour. Thanks to the
race-bred powertrain, the new 911 GT2 RS surpasses its
predecessor, which was equipped with a 3.6 liter engine, by
80 horsepower and delivers up to 553 lb.-ft. of torque.