After nealry 2 decades the 8-Series is back and back with a bang as BMBW launch this beautiful coupe.

The BMW Group is using this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to unveil the BMW Concept 8 Series, the essence of a modern-day BMW coupe wrapped up in an enthralling design study. The study car will serve as a taster of a forthcoming BMW model – the new BMW 8 Series Coupe, slated for launch in 2018 and part of the biggest model offensive in the company’s history. 

The NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy sees the BMW Group aiming to significantly increase sales and revenues in the luxury class, and the BMW 8 Series Coupe plays an important role here. “The number 8 has always represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” explains Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Harald Krüger. 

“The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand. This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”

The BMW Concept 8 Series reveals much of what is to come. “The BMW Concept 8 Series is our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “It is a luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination.”

The exterior brings together the past and the future. The BMW Concept 8 Series is immediately recognisable as a BMW, but also displays new design ideas and form-building techniques. “The design of the BMW Concept 8 Series provides a fresh interpretation of iconic BMW styling cues,” adds van Hooydonk. 

“And it also showcases a new approach to the use of forms which is reflected particularly prominently in the car’s surfacing. A handful of crisp lines mark out clear surfaces, and the car’s volumes are powerfully sculpted. Together, these elements make a forceful statement and create a model brimming with character. In short, this is a driver’s car.”

The flanks: expansive surfaces set within a sporting outline. 

The silhouette of the BMW Concept 8 Series spreads low and powerfully over the road. The interplay of a long bonnet and flowing roofline bring dynamic allure to the car’s flanks, while the striking upward sweep of the concept’s trailing edge provides a crisp conclusion to the car’s rearward flow and adds another sporting flourish.

Within the car’s silhouette, the refreshingly clean yet also dramatic arrangement of surfaces and forms catches the eye and creates a crisp, modern look. The sharply drawn lines coursing over taut volumes represent a visual promise of the vividly dynamic driving experience that awaits.

A look at the details reveals two expressively styled character lines providing the border for surfacing that appears to be formed by air rushing out of the Air Breathers. Further back, the eye is guided to the pronounced flaring above the rear wheels. The flanks as a whole draw attention to a new aspect of BMW’s expertise in the execution of surfaces. Skilfully moulded line sources and flowing highlights accentuate the athletic contours of the BMW Concept 8 Series. 

And the exclusively developed exterior paint finish Barcelona Grey Liquid – a greyish-blue with highly iridescent pigments – shows off the surfacing to optimum effect. Large (21-inch) light-alloy wheels feature a sporty and exclusive multi-spoke design and aero elements, generate visual depth and set the seal of the compelling appearance of the car when viewed in profile.

The front end: sporty, low-slung and visually striking. A large kidney grille, slim twin headlights and large air intakes form a striking, sporty front-end graphic. The classic BMW template has a fresh interpretation here, taking the company’s design language in a different direction. For example, the two kidneys are very low to the road and spread broadly across the front end. 

Taking inspiration from BMW coupes of years past, the kidneys are brought together by an unbroken frame to form a single large element. The grille widens as it extends downwards, emphasising the dynamic character of the BMW Concept 8 Series. Together with super-slim laser headlights and the hexagonal take on the “twin circular” theme, it brings a focused look to the front end.

The large side air intakes in the front apron intensify the car’s wide, sporting stance on the road and promise a very pure dynamic experience. The carbon-fibre element between them underlines the car’s sporty, high-performance character.

The rear: bold and modern. Emotional surfacing also dominates at the rear of the BMW Concept 8 Series, creating a low, highly sculpted tail with maximum width-enhancing effect. The rear is defined by the interplay between volumes and lines, which extend around from the flanks and shape the rear section of the car. 

The powerful wheel arches hint at the car’s dynamic talents and advertise its rear-wheel drive. And the tapering of the passenger cell and the car’s wide track shine a particularly vivid spotlight on this area of the car.

The slim, stretched-out rear lights extend far into the sides of the car and provide a connection between the rear and flanks. The lights themselves take the form of L-shaped blades and project out from the rear. They emphasise the width of the car and its muscular stance on the road, and their slender form gives the rear an ultra-sporty and modern flavour.

The dark, stylised carbon-fibre diffuser in the lower section of the rear apron adds extra lightness and a sportier feel to the rear graphic. Large, trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes frame the rear section and point to the dynamic driving experience to come. 

The interior: an emotionally rich blend of dynamics and luxury. The interior focuses on the essential: the task of driving. Once behind the wheel, the driver is wrapped in the tightly enclosed ambience typical of sports cars. 

The surfaces and lines all gravitate forwards and underscore the dynamic driving experience. The grouping of functions into control clusters, e.g. in the centre stack, the centre console and the doors, gives the interior a clear graphic structure.

Among the standout design elements in the interior are the fluid transition from the instrument panel into the doors and the sporty, enveloping feel of the interior. This impression is magnified by the smooth connection between the centre console and instrument panel, which together form the nucleus of the interior. The high centre console and the instrument panel’s low visual focus add further emphasis to the snug and sporty feeling of space.

The interior of the BMW Concept 8 Series actively explores the contrasts between emotion and engineering, dynamic flair and luxury; its form suggests supreme sportiness, while exquisite materials exude exclusivity and high-grade design. For example, all of the driver’s contact points with the car are brimming with sporting character. 

The exclusive sports seats are slim in design, the carbon-fibre shell providing the basic structure and the finest leather making them the perfect place to sit. The steering wheel continues along similar lines, its hand-polished aluminium spokes arrowing forward purposefully, and the red-anodised shift paddles bring the race track to mind. The contrast of aluminium and dark leather on the gripping surfaces emphasises this luxurious sense of sportiness in various details.

Merino leather in Dark Brown and Fjord White lends the interior a high-quality ambience. Accent surfaces in carbon fibre and hand-polished aluminium create deliberate contrasts and radiate a sporty and technical feel. Plus, a faceted ground gearshift lever and the iDrive Controller made from Swarovski glass with a smoky quartz look treat the interior to some modern and classy finishing touches.

A sign of things to come. The BMW Concept 8 Series is a preview of a model which BMW is set to introduce in a similar form in the coming year. The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on the company’s successful tradition of luxurious sports cars and adds another exciting model – a genuine dream car – to its existing luxury-class line-up.

The BMW 8 Series Coupe will bring together razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury, and set new benchmarks in the luxury coupe segment.

The all New Ssangyong Rexton - a huge leap forward for the flagship model.

SSANGYONG REXTON WORLD PREMIER 

• New SsangYong flagship delivers style, a great driving experience, high levels of safety and new technology
• Authentic SUV inherits its DNA from original Rexton
• 2 litre turbo diesel engine offers powerful performance, 4-wheel drive and 7-speed Mercedes-Benz automatic transmission 

SsangYong Motor Company has unveiled its new Rexton SUV at the Seoul Motor Show. 

This world premiere took place in the company of Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra, Johng-sik Choi, CEO of SsangYong Motor and international guests. 

Unveiling the new car, Johng-sik Choi said: ”Following the launch of Tivoli which set new standards for compact SUVs, the new Rexton will confirm SsangYong as a leading producer of large premium SUVs with traditional 4x4 values. 

“We plan to build a full line-up of SUVs by introducing a new product every year over the next few years, including a brand-new pick-up truck. We will also focus our resources on creating further growth by developing an EV and other eco-friendly vehicles for the future.” 

As a new and authentic SUV, Rexton will help SsangYong re-establish its brand internationally, and draws on the original Rexton for its iconic flagship status. 

With growing demand from around the world for cars with strong off-road driving performance and good towing capabilities to meet the growth in leisure interests, SsangYong expects to see further applications of its body-on-frame, front engine/rear drive layout in large SUVs. This will further consolidate the company’s reputation as a specialist SUV manufacturer. 

The new car embodies robust and dynamic SUV styling and blends drivability with high levels of safety that includes nine airbags. With a front mounted engine, rear-wheel drive and 4x4, Rexton will be a class-leading contender. It will offer excellent driving characteristics on and off-road, balanced weight distribution, great towing capability and good NVH performance. 

SsangYong expects this new generation Rexton to compete with traditional D & E segment SUVs, and will continue the renewal of SsangYong’s brand identity which began with the launch of Tivoli. Inheriting the DNA of the original Rexton flagship, it will also further underpin the company’s reputation as Korea's oldest vehicle manufacturer and only 4x4 and SUV specialist producer. 

Style revolution 

Developed under the project name of Y400 and seen as the LIV-2 concept at the Paris motor show in September 2016, the new car will be known internationally as Rexton, and G4 Rexton in Korea. The car takes its inspiration from the ‘Dignified Motion’ of SsangYong’s design language, ‘Nature-born 3 Motion’. 

The look of this strong, authentic SUV is informed by restrained sensitivity. This fresh, modern and appealing style has been created through the fusion of its robust, dignified body, dramatic-look air intakes, and a cohesive appearance at the front that blends the grille and headlights seamlessly. 

The radiator grille resembles the spread wings of a bird in flight - first seen on Tivoli and symbolising liberty and freedom, and this new front end design will now be shared across all future SsangYong models to create a distinctive and recognisable new identity for the marque. 

Additionally, the strong character lines on the car’s side - especially towards the back where they rise up towards the rear bumper, and again first seen on the Tivoli, will also become another styling cue for SsangYong. 

The smooth A-pillar and wide D-pillar show a contrast to give a pleasant yet strong image. Furthermore, Rexton is the first SUV in the domestic market to offer 20-inch wheels, adding to the stylish and luxurious look. Daytime running lights and LED fog, side and indicator lights add to this premium image. 

With a refined and luxurious interior, there is a choice of seat styles including full leather seats trimmed in high grade Nappa leather, complete with a memory system to save the driver’s preferred seat and door mirror positions. A luxurious quilted stitch seat pattern also helps to hold the body in position, while aiding passenger comfort. 

There is a high level of passenger convenience and the largest load space in the segment thanks to optimised interior space design. This wide interior ensures the highest levels of comfort for passengers, and the only model in its segment that can carry rear seat passengers and four golf bags in the boot. 

Driving revolution 

The Rexton powertrain employs a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine and Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic transmission. This highly efficient and quiet e-XDi220 engine delivers progressive acceleration from a standing start, and a strong low end torque typical of SsangYong engines. 

The Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic transmission, renowned for its smooth performance and durability also responds quickly for more dynamic driving. 

A highly efficient 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine will also be offered, matched to an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission. 

The car’s 4-wheel drive system draws on SsangYong’s years of experience in 4WD technology. With rear wheel drive under normal driving conditions for comfort and fuel efficiency, there is also 4WD with high/low ratios for when on and off-road conditions demand. A combination of double wishbone suspension at the front and multi-link independent suspension at the rear ensures a high level of driving stability. 

Safety revolution 

The Rexton will be one of the safest cars in its class, with nine airbags including knee-airbag for the driver and side-airbags in the rear. 

Constructed using a quad-frame body structure using 1.5Gpa-grade high-strength steel - a world first, it also features 63% advanced high strength steel to create greatly improved body strength while reducing weight. Advanced driver assistance systems include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection and a Front Vehicle Start Alarm to ensure optimum safety for passengers. 3D Around View Monitoring is featured for the first time in its domestic market to provide a clear view of the area surrounding the car to increase safety and driver convenience during low-speed driving and parking. 

High-tech revolution 

An advanced infotainment system is installed in the car, and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with device mirroring, with everything including navigation displayed in HD on a wide 9.20-inch screen. With excellent connectivity, it ensures quality entertainment and enjoyment on the move. 

Other features include Auto Closing (the doors lock automatically when the key is carried away from the car), Easy Access (the driver’s seat position is automatically adjusted for easy access when the door opens), high-performing, dual-zone fully automated air-conditioning that filters even fine dust, a 220V/115V inverter in the load area, and a ‘smart tailgate’ for added convenience when loading and unloading the boot. (This automatically opens the tailgate when holding the key next to the car for more than three seconds). 

Rexton is 4,850mm long, 1,920mm wide, 1,800mm high, and has a 2,865mm wheelbase. 

The car will go on sale in Korea during the first half of this year, and internationally before the end of 2017. 

Ssangyong launches the next generation Rexton Flagship SUV, and its a better all round car.

• New large and authentic SUV will deliver style, a great driving experience, high levels of safety and new technology
• New car inherits its flagship DNA from original Rexton
• To be unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show, Thursday 30 March 

SsangYong Motor Company, (CEO Jhong-Sik Choi; www.smotor.com/en) has announced that its new car to be launched this week will be called Rexton. 

Developed under the project name of Y400 and seen as the LIV-2 concept at the Paris motor show in September 2016, the new car inherits the heritage and DNA of the original Rexton as a large, authentic SUV. It will be known internationally as Rexton, and ‘G4 Rexton’ in Korea. 

SsangYong expects this new generation Rexton to compete with traditional D & E segment SUVs, and will continue the renewal of SsangYong’s brand identity which began with the launch of Tivoli. 

Inheriting the brand values of the original Rexton as its flagship, it will also further underpin the company’s reputation as Korea's oldest vehicle manufacturer and only 4x4 and SUV specialist producer. 

With a refined and luxurious interior, the new Rexton will feature Apple Carplay and Android Auto with device mirroring, 3D Around View Monitoring (AVM) and a wide 9.2-inch HD screen. 

The new car embodies robust and dynamic SUV styling and blends drivability with high levels of safety that includes nine airbags. With a front mounted engine, rear-wheel drive and 4x4, Rexton will be a class-leading contender. It will offer excellent driving characteristics on and off-road, balanced weight distribution, great towing capability and NVH performance. 

Constructed using a Quad-Frame body structure using 1.5Gpa giga-steel - a world first, it also features 63% advanced high strength steel (AHSS) to create greatly improved body strength while reducing weight. 

Rexton is 4,850mm long, 1,920mm wide, 1,800mm high, and has a 2,865mm wheelbase. It will be powered by both petrol and new clean-burning diesel engines. 

The car will go on sale in Korea during the first half of this year, and internationally before the end of 2017. 

Vauxhall will undertake to take the new Ampera-e for United Kingdom evaluation in the hope they will be able to sell it here.

• Vauxhall to evaluate new EV as part of its commitment to electro-mobility
• RHD cars not planned for current-gen Ampera-e…
• …but importance of UK market holds potential for future models
• Class-leading range to be demonstrated to Vauxhall’s fleet clients

The new Ampera-e electric car, which will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this month, will be evaluated in the UK by Vauxhall with the possibility of right-hand-drive models being produced in a future generation.

Due to be sold by Vauxhall’s sister company, Opel, from 2017 with left-hand-drive, the Ampera-e has a class-leading pure electrical range that can exceed 250 miles without recharging (purely electrical range measured, based on the New European Driving Cycle, or NEDC, in km: > 400; provisional figure). 

However, even taking into account the real world impact of driving style, road and weather conditions, the car can still achieve a range of over 185 miles under average, every day conditions.

‘Vauxhall is committed to having a future EV presence in its range,’ said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. 

‘The technology which underpins the new Ampera-e is of great interest to us, and we will be evaluating LHD cars from next spring and demonstrating them to clients. 

The fact that Ampera-e is not an eco-luxury or second car for customers broadens its appeal greatly, but it’s obviously vital that the car we sell in our market is right-hand-drive, and that won’t be available in the current generation.’

The class-leading range of 250 miles (provisional figure measured, based on the NEDC) of the Ampera-e – which beats the maximum 186-mile NEDC range of its closest competitor, the BMW i3, fitted with its optional, large 33kWh battery – is not the only feature which will be part of Vauxhall’s appraisal. 

Clever integration of the ten battery modules means that the 4.17 metre-long car can accommodate five people, yet still offers a 381-litre boot. 

The battery package is located in the underbody and is tailored to the contours of the vehicle, with no space wasted. The battery, developed in cooperation with LG Chem, comprises 288 lithium-ion cells and has a capacity of 60 kWh.

Sports car acceleration

With maximum torque of 360Nm and power equivalent to 204PS, the Ampera-e’s standing-start and mid-range acceleration figures are on a par with many a sports car. 

Zero to 30mph takes a mere 3.2 seconds, while 50-75mph – a particularly important yardstick for overtaking performance – takes just 4.5 seconds (preliminary figures). Top speed is electronically limited to 93mph for the benefit of overall range.

The Ampera-e also has the ability to re-charge its batteries while being driven. To do so, the driver just eases off the accelerator in the normal ‘Drive’ mode. The Ampera-e recuperates automatically in overrun and wins back energy from the electric motor, which doubles as a generator. 

The motor’s braking effect is increased when the driver switches to ‘Low’ mode, therefore increasing recuperation. Furthermore, the driver can switch to ‘Regen on Demand’ for maximum energy recuperation, via a paddle at the back of the steering wheel. 

The drag torque is so high in ‘Low/Regen on Demand’ modes that the brake pedal need not be applied to reduce speed to a full stop in normal traffic, leaving the Ampera-e to be safely controlled by the accelerator (naturally, the brake pedal still needs to be applied in an emergency).

Initial vehicle simulation models show that drivers can increase the range by up to five per cent compared with ‘Drive’ mode, when applying ‘One Pedal Driving’ with the corresponding full recuperation in dense city stop/go traffic.

Fully connected with OnStar and smartphone integration

The Ampera-e has both the latest generation IntelliLink infotainment and OnStar on board, with the award-winning connectivity and service assistant offering a powerful WiFi hotspot for up to seven devices (depending on market). The Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto-compatible IntelliLink systems bring the world of smartphones into the Ampera-e, allowing passengers complete access to their favourite music, or the luxury of streaming movies.

Ssangyong unveils the final concept of the Y400 Development, known as the LIV-2 at this years Paris Motor Show.

SsangYong Motor Company, (CEO, Johng-sik Choi; www.smotor.com/en) will unveil its LIV-2 large premium SUV concept at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

The SsangYong LIV-2 - Limitless Interface Vehicle - is the final concept of the Y400 development model, and will be launched next year.  

As the latest iteration of the LIV-1 concept exhibited at the Seoul Motor Show in 2013, it advances the car’s design language and helps to communicate the brand theme of ‘Dignified Motion.’

LIV-2 is powered by SsangYong’s own 2.2 litre Euro 6 diesel engine to achieve a powerful yet efficient performance, or its newly developed 2.0 litre GDi turbo petrol engine.

The concept features high levels of safety as well as a contemporary luxury interior equipped with a suite of advanced communication technologies.

Porsche launches the All-New Panamera Luxury Saloon at this years Paris Motor Show. comes with a hybrid as standard.

• Sustainability and performance - no contradiction for Porsche

The Paris Motor Show will see Porsche unveil the next model in the all-new Panamera line: the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid with standard all-wheel drive and an electric range of up to 31 miles (50 km). 

The plug-in hybrid vehicle generates 462 hp of total system output and delivers impressive fuel consumption of 2.5 l/100 km, which corresponds to only 56 g/km of CO₂ emissions. All figures to date are based upon the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

Performance Hybrid

At Porsche, the term "hybrid" is synonymous with sustainable mobility and performance – most recently displayed with the back-to-back victories of the Porsche 919 Hybrid in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 and 2016. This philosophy is now also defining the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.

The new Porsche plug-in hybrid always starts in electric mode and continues as a zero-emission vehicle with a maximum all-electric range of 31 miles and a maximum speed on battery power of 86 mph. 

And yet, this Panamera is still a sports car among luxury sedans: the all-wheel drive four-door Porsche achieves a top track speed of 172 mph and delivers a total system torque of 516 pound-feet without hesitation. 

The torque is transferred to all four wheels, while the standard three-chamber air suspension ensures an optimum balance between comfort and performance at all times. The newest plug-in hybrid sports sedan breaks the 0-60 barrier in just 4.4 seconds.

New hybrid strategy based on the Porsche 918 Spyder

The superlative performance is no accident: the new Panamera 4 E-Hybrid features a hybrid strategy never before seen in this segment – a strategy based on the

918 Spyder. 

The 887-hp 918 Spyder is the fastest series-produced vehicle ever to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The record lap time of 6:57 minutes is in part attributed to the additional power provided by two electric motors.

As with the 918 Spyder, the power of the Panamera electric motor – 136 hp (100 kW) and 295 pound-feet of torque – is made available as soon as the driver touches the accelerator pedal. 

On the predecessor model, the pedal needed to be pressed at least 80 percent of the way down to unleash the additional power of the electric drive's "E-Boost" mode. 

Now, the electric motor is available to deliver additional power at any time. Together with the performance characteristics of the new 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 (330 hp and 331 lb.-ft.), this generates an impressive boost scenario based on the electric motor and turbochargers.

In the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, the electrical energy is also used to increase the car's top track speed. At Porsche, this new type of "E-Performance" – more power, more driving fun, lower fuel consumption – is seen as the performance kit of the future.

New hybrid module and fast-shifting eight-speed PDK

Together with the combustion engine decoupler, the electric motor heralds the next generation of the Porsche hybrid module. In contrast to the electro-hydraulic system of the previous model, the decoupler on the new Panamera is actuated electromechanically by an electric clutch actuator (ECA), resulting in even shorter response times.

Similar to the other second-generation Panamera models, a new, efficient, and extremely fast-shifting Porsche eight-speed Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission is used to transmit the power to the wheels. This transmission replaces the eight-speed automatic torque converter transmission in the previous model.

The electric motor is supplied with power via a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery. And despite the increase in energy content of the battery from 9.4 to 14.1 kWh (integrated under the luggage compartment floor), its weight has remained the same. 

The high-voltage battery takes just 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 times decrease to under three hours with a 240 V, 40 amp connection.

The charging process can also be initiated using a timer via Porsche Communication Management (PCM) or the Porsche Car Connect app (for smartphones and Apple® Watches). Additionally, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid features standard auxiliary air conditioning which can cool or heat the passenger compartment during charging.

Porsche Advanced Cockpit with hybrid-specific displays

One highlight of the second-generation Panamera is the newly designed display and control concept in the form of the standard Porsche Advanced Cockpit with touch-sensitive panels and individually configurable displays. 

Two seven-inch screens either side of the analog tachometer form the interactive cockpit, and in contrast to the other Panamera variants, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid features a power meter tailored to hybrid operation. 

The intuitive operating principle of the hybrid-specific displays is similar to that used in the Porsche 918 Spyder hypercar. The power meter provides data such as the amount of electrical energy currently being used as well as the amount recovered through recuperation.

A 12.3-inch touchscreen functions as the centralized Porsche Communication Management (PCM) control and display unit. The driver can access various items of hybrid-specific information both here on the display and in the instrument cluster. 

The boost assistant and hybrid assistant are both practical and informative. The former display shows the energy available for boosting, while the latter provides various visual signals for regulating the electrical drive power.

Ultimate efficiency in "Hybrid Auto" mode

The Sport Chrono Package, which integrates a mode switch into the steering wheel, forms part of the standard equipment on the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid. 

The mode switch and PCM are used to activate the various driving modes. These modes include the familiar "Sport" and "Sport Plus" modes from other Panamera models equipped with the Sport Chrono Package. The hybrid-specific modes are "E-Power," "Hybrid Auto," "E-Hold," and "E-Charge."

The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid always starts in "E-Power" which puts the powertrain in a pure electric mode. The "Hybrid Auto" mode is a completely new development which adjusts and combines the internal combustion and electric mode drive sources automatically for ultimate efficiency.

The "E-Hold" mode allows drivers to conserve the current state of charge of the lithium-ion battery. This will allow the driver to utilize electric mode (and therefore drive with zero emissions) in an environmental zone at their destination, for example. 

In "E-Charge" mode, the battery is charged by the V6 engine; to achieve this, the gasoline engine generates a higher level of power than is needed for driving.

The highest level of drive performance is made available in the "Sport" and "Sport Plus" modes. The twin-turbo V6 remains active in these modes. In "Sport" mode, the battery charge is maintained at a level to ensure there is sufficient e-boost capability when needed.

Finally, "Sport Plus" mode is all about maximum performance and allows the Panamera to reach its top track speed of 172 mph. This mode also recharges the battery as quickly as possible with the help of the twin-turbo V6 engine, while also dipping deeper into the power reserves to ensure maximum e-boost is available.

Panamera 4 E-Hybrid availability and pricing

The new 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is expected to become available in North America by the summer 2017. Pricing will be announced at a later date.