With a time of 02:24:12 with the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Porsche has achieved the fastest completion of a lap for a luxury four-door hybrid saloon at the Losail International Circuit.
The record in Qatar is part of a wider programme, achieving six benchmark times for this model category on six racetracks within the wider region of the Middle East, India and South Africa, it has been announced.
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, according to a press statement.
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 Losail International Circuit, located in the north of Doha.
The lap record was set using standard road tyres, on a circuit that boasts of a combination of 16 medium- and high-speed corners, and a main straight measuring just over 1km.
Markus Peter, marketing director at Porsche Middle East and Africa, said: “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.
“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.”
Salman Jassem al-Darwish, chairman and CEO of Porsche Centre Doha Al Boraq Automobiles Co, said: “Porsche has an unrivalled heritage of setting lap records on some of the world’s most famous race tracks; so, to now add the Losail International Circuit to that list is an impressive accolade. 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.
“I would like to encourage all sports car enthusiasts in Qatar to visit us at Porsche Centre in order to experience the incredible lap using the virtual reality set-up we have installed.”
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 offers 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, the statement notes.
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.
Members of the public can experience the fastest luxury four-door hybrid saloon in action as it set records via virtual reality by visiting Porsche Centre Doha, or visit www.porsche.com/middle-east/aboutporsche/e-performance to watch a video of the lap.