2017 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid

The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is a Porsche designed primarily to appeal not to the chest-thumping, tarmac-tearing road warrior that lurks within most of us, but to your inner accountant, to whose presence we may less readily admit. The ‘4’ in the name denotes the number of driven wheels, while the ‘E’ means it can be plugged into your electricity supply.

We have, of course, been here before. The old Panamera was available not only as a hybrid but also as an e-hybrid and, contrary to instincts that asked why people didn’t just buy the cheaper, better diesel version instead, it actually sold reasonably well, accounting for 20% of British Panamera sales.

Applying the same logic, this one will do far better than that. It is, of course, quicker thanks to its brand new electrically boosted, Porsche-designed twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6, which provides 456bhp and a 516lb ft wall of torque at just 1100rpm. It knocks the 0-62mph time back from a brisk 5.5sec to a distinctly rapid 4.6sec. And yet, if official fuel economy figures are to be believed (which they most certainly are not), it will do more than 95mpg. The E-Hybrid will now cover 30 miles on electrical energy alone, versus the previous model's 22, and it will do 87mph before feeling the need to summon up a little internal combustion assistance. The old car would do just 84mph. For that, thank 134bhp of pure electrical power under your foot, instead of just 95bhp.

So it’s better in almost every measurable way and, being a brand new car, I should think so too. Less easily predictable is the fall in price from £88,967 for the old Panamera E-Hybrid to £79,715 for the new. That makes it almost £9000 cheaper than the 22bhp less powerful Panamera 4S.

In electric-only mode, the E-Hybrid is absolutely lovely. Many owners will be able to commute in absolute, untroubled silence and, rightly, that will make this car very tempting. The problem comes when the internal combustion engine chimes in. Brand new and Porsche designed though it is, silken it is not, and its rather gruff voice strikes a stark contrast to the unsullied quiet offered when powered by electricity. It’s an engine that makes you want to upshift early and downshift late. Which, for any Porsche, is a shame.

Also, the E-Hybrid handles well, but only to a point. It clings on grimly enough in fast, steady-speed corners, but the steering lacks feel and when the grip does start to go, the car is not hugely responsive to remedial action. Blame a kerb weight fully 100kg greater than that of a long-wheelbase Mercedes-AMG S63 for that and, wait for it, 320kg more than that of a standard Panamera 4.