Porsche, like many other premium automakers, is very serious about fuel-efficiency, going as far as to even approve a diesel variant of its Cayenne SUV for the diesel-hating North American market. A bold move indeed, but the company isn’t stopping there. Reports have it that a plug-in version of the Panamera S Hybrid will go on sale by the middle of 2013.
The Panamera S plug-in Hybrid will be powered by the same supercharged direct-injection gasoline V6 and electric motor as the standard Panamera S Hybrid, but will get a mains charger and a bigger lithium-ion battery pack in place of the nickel-metal hydride unit. It is expected to have an EPA fuel-economy rating of 22/30 mpg city/highway and an electric range of 30 kilometers (19 miles) on the European drive cycle.
Although Porsche is mum on pricing details, prospective buyers should expect to pay a premium over the 2012 Panamera S Hybrid’s $95,975 base price.
