Porsche announces Panamera S Hybrid

Can 30.4mpg and 159g/km of CO2 emissions ever justify being hated by everybody on your street?

That's essentially the question Porsche is asking with this, the new Panamera S Hybrid.

Utilising the same system currently in the Cayenne, the hybrid Panamera is powered by an electric motor with 47bhp and a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine developing 333bhp, mated to an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox. Both engine and motor can be used alone or in conjunction, and Porsche is spoiling you with the Pan's pure electric range: a dizzying 1.25 miles.

See more pics of the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

This motor - connected to a nickel metal hybride battery which siphons back energy under braking - also acts as the generator and starter, and sits between the engine and transmission.

The Panamera also features a ‘sailing' function: when the engine isn't using any power and you're basically coasting down the road, it switches the big Vee off to save fuel at speeds of up to 103mph.

As a result, the Porsche Panamera Hybrid S achieves those figures outlined above, along with a 0-62mph time of six seconds and a top speed of 168mph, which, considering it emits less than a 1.6-litre Ford Focus, is quite astonishing.

The S Hybrid also features adaptive air suspension as standard, and the hybrid display panel as used in the green Cayenne.

Prices start from £86,146. And so again we put it to you, can low emissions act as a shield against the scorn your friends and neighbours - maybe even your dog - will pour on you because you bought a Panamera? It's not like Porsche isn't capable of cool. Just look at this, for instance...