Porsche Panamera to Add Mild Hybrid System for 2020

The Porsche Panamera was completely redesigned for 2017 and it recently celebrated its tenth anniversary on the market. While there have been rumours of new coupe and convertible variants to go along with the sedan and wagon (Sport Turismo), what we do know is that a refreshed 2020 model is scheduled to debut before the end of this year.

According to a report by Autocar, Porsche will introduce its first mild hybrid powertrain for the Panamera 4S, meaning the twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 will adopt the 48-volt electrical system Audi is already using in certain models like the A8.

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Basically, a compact lithium?ion battery operates in conjunction with a new and optimized alternator to supply 48 volts as the energy source during engine?off phases. It can provide an efficiency boost by allowing the start-stop system to activate sooner, for instance.

This, of course, is different from the actual hybrid powertrain found in the current Panamera E-Hybrid and Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which combine a force-fed engine with an electric motor to significantly increase output (680 hp in the case of the latter) and offer some EV range.

Autocar also mentions that Audi's electric compressor is expected to be included to fill in the gaps in torque delivery while the turbochargers spool up.

Other performance enhancements are likely, but what will they be exactly? Only Porsche knows at this point.

The rest of the 2020 Panamera will see minor changes from a design standpoint, like updated taillights connected by an LED strip, bringing the sedan in line with the new Cayenne and 911. Inside, we’re counting on more advanced connectivity and assist features.