Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

In a world of Taycans does Porsche's plug-in-hybrid Panamera still have a place? Our new long-termer should provide the answer

 TO SAY HYBRIDS, AND SPECIFICALLY T those that require a plug to charge their battery, have come a long way since they first appeared would be an understatement to rival claims that Formula 1 safety is a bit better since the Halo was introduced. Some of those first hybrids had the range of an asthmatic ant trying to carry an elephant on its back.

Yet while the world and its wife/ husband/partner have been spending billions on developing a range of so-so electric vehicles and shelling out even more on marketing said automotive white goods, the plug-in hybrid has quietly become far more useable and relevant to the world we face today. It's why we've added another to our fleet. Joining our PSE Peugeot 508 SW is-deep breath- a Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo.

It costs, before visiting the options section of the configurator, £105,830 and while we didn't get to spec 'our' example, Porsche's PR team still spent an additional £15,000 of its budget on it. The Papaya metallic paint was £2670, the panoramic glass roof (that actually opens) £1581.