Call it a Taycan XL or a luxury sedan version of Porsche’s upcoming 7-seater SUV, the next Panamera looks like it could be an all-electric large sedan. Based on the same SSP platform that will be the basis for Porsche’s upcoming 7-seater EV—and the next-generation Taycan coming later this decade—the next Panamera is already in testing, and should make its debut in the next couple of years. The current Panamera was introduced back in 2016, and while it was refreshed for 2021, it’s coming up on time for it to be replaced altogether. Given Porsche’s commitment to electric propulsion being a majority of its sales in the next couple of years, it makes sense that the company would want to transition its biggest car to electric ASAP.
Like Porsche’s current plan for the Macan, the gasoline-powered Panamera will continue on with yet another facelift [allegedly coming in 2023] selling concurrently with the new electric version. This is probably going to be the Porsche way as the brand makes its transition, as the same is rumored to be true of the Cayenne, which according to Autocar magazine, will be getting its all-electric version circa 2025. Once this cycle is complete, the only car in Porsche’s lineup to not get an all-electric version before the decade’s end is the 911. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Porsche is just throwing shadows around about that, and an E-911 is set to drop in the next three to five years. I guess we’ll see.
Porsche is said to be working on next-generation 800 volt battery technology for its EVs, offering faster charging and greater energy density than its current EV models. Not only will that mean batteries can be made smaller and lighter, but hopefully less expensively as well. In a large grand touring sedan like the Panamera, that new battery tech could mean super long range for continent crossings in silent speed. Personally, I’m looking forward to a relatively lightweight 718 EV. Bring on the future, Porsche. We’re ready for it.