Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo 2017 review

Eerily, unsettlingly – and yet rather predictably – brilliant, in summary.

It just does everything. You want long-legged executive express? The Panamera has you covered, with supreme ride comfort on its three-chamber air suspension, impeccable refinement and a gorgeous interior.

Got a need for speed? So has the Porsche, with 0-124mph (a nice round 200km/h) taking less than 12sec; 2325kg the Panamera may be, but the canyon of power and torque on offer makes light work of it.

Want a sporting estate? Fine, no problem, as the E-Hybrid boasts an arsenal of dynamic technology to make an aircraft carrier look like the Cutty Sark. It features active anti-roll bars to keep the body flat and level, PTV Plus torque vectoring, PTM traction control, standard ceramic brakes (the caliper colour can be changed, fear not) and, on the test car, optional rear-wheel steer as well.

Combine all that with huge – 275-section front, 325-section rear – tyres as well as all-wheel drive and the Panamera’s purchase on a road is phenomenal, composure unerring and grip boundless. It may not be the last word in touchy-feely involvement but you could level the same criticism at an Audi RS6 – in that car, you merely admire its abilities; here, you’re staggered by them.

But what about when you need to be responsible? The Sport Turismo ticks that box too, with an E-Mode that delivers up to 31 miles of electric range. Its electric motor provides 134bhp and 295lb ft, enough to get the Panamera to 87mph without involving the twin-turbo V8. The battery is regenerated while driving, or can be charged in six hours from a standard domestic supply.

It’s fantastically simple to drive as en electric vehicle too; sounds obvious, but very often throttle pedals on cars like this can act like switches and the engine is reignited unintentionally. Here it’s as linear, progressive and readable as any Porsche accelerator, and same goes for the brake. To integrate such a vast array of technology into such a user-friendly package is some feat from Porsche. It really can go from EV commuter to family holdall to supercar worrier in the flick of a switch.

The hybrid system can be tailored to your needs as well, with Hybrid Auto delivering the most efficient drive possible and E-Hold conserving a level of charge for when it might be required. Sport and Sport Plus combine the two power sources for the most performance possible.

That this comes in addition to all that makes the standard Panamera so complete – a fabulous interior, stunning quality and, in the case of the Sport Turismo especially, suave good looks – means the Turbo S E-Hybrid is an extremely accomplished machine.