Porsche’s hybrid saloon impresses on the track by topping a lap record at Bahrain International Circuit.
By achieving a time of 02:18:96 with the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Porsche has established the fastest completion of a lap for a luxury four-door hybrid saloon at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). The record in Bahrain is part of a wider programme, achieving six best times for this model category on six racetracks within the wider region of the Middle East, India and South Africa. The Stuttgart-based manufacturer put its performance credentials to the test, and once again reinforced the benefits of transferring technology developed on the track to road-legal models. As a descendent of the successful 919 Hybrid race car, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is the fastest and most fuel-efficient Panamera to date and forms an important part of the brand’s E-Performance strategy.
Piloted by Porsche testing and development driver Lars Kern, a standard production version of the four-door sports car took on the challenge of setting a record lap time at the BIC in Sakhir. The FIA-certified track, which hosts Formula One races alongside other international and regional championships, including the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, is highly regarded by global and regional drivers alike. The lap record was set on the GP configuration of the circuit with its 14 turns, using standard road tyres.
“Setting the benchmark lap time for hybrid saloon models offered Porsche a unique opportunity to bring to life our Performance Electrified campaign – a communication platform that demonstrates how the combination of an electric motor and combustion engine results in the delivery of impressive power,” says Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE marketing director Markus Peter. “The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid was also chosen for this activity because it bridges our 70-year history of sports car innovation to our future of sporty mobility. To further demonstrate the model’s outstanding credentials, we took it to a total of six high-profile racetracks across the region, with expectations surpassed at every turn.”
“Porsche has an unrivalled heritage of setting lap records on some of the world’s most famous racetracks, so to now add the Bahrain International Circuit to that list is an impressive accolade,” says Colin Sattar, Porsche Centre Bahrain general manager, Behbehani Brothers WLL. “We often talk about the pedigree of Porsche sports cars as well as the impressive output of the brand’s hybrid models. This newly set lap time is, therefore, the perfect example of performance promises brought to life.”
Porsche has continuously been at the forefront of advancing hybrid sports cars. In 2014, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer was the first to offer three plug-in models, across three segments. Fast forward to the present day and electrification continues to form a crucial part of its product offering, with the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid as proof of what electric technology represents for the brand. The electric motor provides extra boost to the V8, four-litre twin turbo combustion engine, enabling the luxury saloon to complete a 100km/h sprint in just 3.4 seconds, and offering extraordinary tractive force at higher speeds. Delivering a top speed of 310km/h, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid sets unparalleled benchmarks in its class.
Performance, comfort and efficiency form a perfect three-way combination in the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. It starts in the purely electric ‘E-Power’ mode as standard, and the four-door sports car drives locally over a distance of up to 50km, with zero emissions. When a specific pressure point is passed on the accelerator pedal, or when the battery charge level drops below a minimum value, the Panamera switches to ‘Hybrid Auto’ mode, at which point the power of both the combustion engine and electric motor are made available.
As part of the overall Performance Electrified campaign, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid also set benchmark lap times at Yas Marina Circuit, UAE (2:31:79), Kyalami, South Africa (1:59:08), Buddh, India (2:12:56), Dubai Autodrome, UAE (2:19:15) and Losail, Qatar (2:24:12).
Visit Porsche Centre Bahrain in Sitra for more information.
Call 17 459-911.
