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Porsche aims to save gas, cash, and environment

14 November, 2016

German automaker Porsche have announced that they will be unveiling the latest incarnation of their Panamera luxury-saloon range, which features a new 243kW (330hp) V6 turbo petrol engine, claimed to cut fuel consumption and emissions, at the Los Angeles Auto Show to be held over November 18–27.

Although still fossil-powered, this latest announcement claims Porsche’s new V6 turbo engine is designed to be highly efficient and remain an agile entry-level addition to their existing range of engine options. Porsche has advised that power has been upped by 20hp from the previous Panamera generation while reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by completely redeveloping the six-cylinder powerhouse inside and out. The result produces up to 7.6 litres of fuel consumed per 100km and up to 173g per square kilometre of CO2 emissions. That’s a betterment of around one litre of fuel consumed per 100km — not bad, Porsche.

This new 243kW (330hp) is combined with rear-wheel drive in the Panamera, and the Panamera 4 version features an all-wheel drive system, plus an additional longer-wheelbase model known as the Panamera 4 Executive. While the Panamera and the Panamera 4 are suited for weekend leisurely drives, the larger Executive model focuses on the luxury side of things, and you can expect to look pretty suave being driven around in the chauffeur-designed saloon — if you’re that way inclined.

Also available in the all-wheel drive versions are the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive (340kW/462hp), Panamera 4S Executive (324kW/440hp), and Panamera Turbo Executive (404kW/550hp). The existing summer 2016 line-up consists of the Panamera 4S, Panamera 4S Diesel, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, and Panamera Turbo. 

As the range continues to develop, we can expect even more fuel-efficient versions to be included. Meaning less time between visits to the pump and more dollars in your wallet for longer — the ease on the environment isn’t a bad feature either.

Technical jargon

  • Panamera: fuel consumption combined 7.5–7.6 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 171–173g per square kilometre. 
  • Panamera 4: fuel consumption combined 7.7–7.8 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 175–176g per square kilometre.
  • Panamera 4 Executive: fuel consumption combined 7.8–7.9 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 178–180g per square kilometre.
  • Panamera 4S: fuel consumption combined 8.1–8.2 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 184–186g per square kilometre.
  • Panamera 4S Diesel: fuel consumption combined 6.7–6.8 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 176–178g per square kilometre.
  • Panamera 4S Executive: fuel consumption combined 8.2–8.3 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 187–189g per square kilometre.
  • Panamera Turbo: fuel consumption combined 9.3–9.4 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 212–214g per square kilometre.
  • Panamera Turbo Executive: fuel consumption combined 9.4–9.5 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 215–217g per square kilometre.
  • Panamera 4 E-Hybrid: fuel consumption combined 2.5 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 56g per km; electricity consumption combined 15.9kWh per 100km.
  • Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive: fuel consumption combined 2.5 litres per 100km; CO2 emissions of 56g per km; electricity consumption combined 15.9kWh per 100km.

Images: Porsche

Bronze treasure unearthed

20 August, 2026

The car was put away in favour of something more practical, and when his father was unable to drive any more, Matt’s friend asked him to come and take a look at his dad’s old Holden. It turned out this was one of those phone calls that leads to that feeling of pure joy in the classic car world — the ‘barn find’ that turns out to be even better than expected. The HT Monaro had been put to bed some years before and had not seen the light of day since. Layers of dust and boxes of junk littered her undercarriage and bodywork and access points all around.

NZ Classic Car magazine, September/October 2026 issue 407, on sale now

16 August, 2026

We love bugs!
A bit of TLC that became a major restoration
The 1302S, or ‘Super Beetle’ as it became known, was built for two years before it, too, was replaced by a further-enhanced Beetle, the 1303, continuing an amazing 65-year lineage for one of the World’s best-known shapes.
The world’s best-selling single-model vehicle, the VW Beetle, possibly established another record for the amount of controversy it has created since the inception of the Type 1.
In a meeting with Hitler in June 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was contracted to build a ‘People’s Car’ that could accommodate two adults and three children, was air-cooled and simple to maintain, and could cruise economically at moderate speed along Germany’s proposed new Autobahns.
Our feature car, a 1972 1302S ‘Super Beetle’, was found by Dave and Michelle Dickie in Mosgiel a few years back. It was a runner, but like most VWs of this age, it needed a little TLC. They were looking for a daily driver for Michelle when they first came upon the VW being sold locally on behalf of its owner.
“The owner offered it to his grandchildren, and they didn’t want it, so he got the guy out at Mosgiel in the Mobil petrol station to sell it for him, and he put it on Trade Me for them. We never met the owner, and we were always dealing with the guy at the petrol station. We put a bid on it, and we were the only people that bid on it.”
Their bid was eventually successful, eight years ago. Not knowing much of the history, in situations like that, it’s always a risk buying a car, but they were in for a bit of a surprise.