Porsche E-Performance Nights in Sepang

By 2025, Porsche foresees that half their vehicle model range will be electric-powered, prompting the brand to invest heavily into the electrification of its automobiles. This electrification includes hybrids, plug-in-hybrids and full electric vehicles or EV’s.

To slowly get people used to the idea of an electrified future with Porsche, the Zuffenhausen-based conglomerate decided to host an evening event at the world-renowed Sepang International Circuit at Sepang, Malaysia, dubbed the Porsche E-Performance Nights. When asked why Porsche decided to host such an event in the evening, the unofficial response was, well, it’s fun and different! Officially of course, Porsche wanted to give the assembled ASEAN Motoring journalists a chance to experience night-time driving at race-track speeds, similar to conditions at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race.

Three vehicles  were highlighted at this event: the Panamera, the all-new Cayenne, and Porsche’s seminal, hybrid-hypercar, the 918 Spyder. There was a scale-model of the Porsche Taycan, Porsche’s all-new all-electric cross-over which goes into production at the end of 2019, and hitting markets worldwide by mid 2020. Thus, Porsche is investing 700 million euros for the construction of new assembly facilities in its Zuffenhausen complex, outside of Stuttgart to build an all-new, dedicated facility for the Taycan, and potentially other future electric vehicle models. Once online, the new facility will also generate an additional 1,200 jobs immediately to help in the manufacture and assembly of the Taycan.

The Taycan’s details are still under wraps, but Porsche promises that it will deliver driving excitement and enjoyment comparable to other Porsche vehicles. When pressed for how the overall aural experience would be like, due to the lack of sound, Porsche insisted that there will, in fact, be a sound. A different type of sound unique to electric motors, but one that still transmits excitement and passion. Of course, the keen steering, braking, cornering and overall handling attributes of a Porsche model will be very much present. It’s position underneath the Panamera in terms of size, and a cross-over body style was chosen because Porsche felt buyers of this vehicle in this segment would want a cross-over rather than a traditional SUV, sedan or coupe, essentially ushering a new generation of clients into the Porsche-fold.

There were three main driving activities for the media: a slalom using the latest Porsche Cayenne hybrid, guided hot laps around the full Sepang GP Circuit in the Panamera and Panamera Sport Turismo and finally, shotgun ride in the Porsche 918 Spyder.

The slalom was held at the north side GP paddock area. The Cayenne, a big, lumbering and heavy SUV (as we all think) was utilized to highlight two things: the instant response of the electric-motors in pure electric mode, and the rear-wheel steering system which massively helps agility and balance through the slaloms. I was first to go, and was immediately amazed by the massive surge of acceleration from the electric motors of the Cayenne Hybrid. The next surprising aspect was the maneuverability afforded by the rear-wheel steering axle; the rear end feels lively, but responsive and glued to the ground with all the stability one expects from a Porsche. The new Cayenne E-Hybrid is powered by a bi-turbo V6 engine and electric motor which deliver a combined 462hp and a staggering 700 Newton-Meters of torque, driving all four wheels via a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. The Cayenne E-Hybrid also boasts of a 44 kilometer all-electric range, with an amazing claimed 30+ kilometers per liter fuel consumption on European testing standards.

The next activity was hot laps around the full GP track driving the Panameras. I chose the Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid, because the shooting-brake/estate body style was simply sexier, more stylish and more sophisticated than the 4-door coupe body style of the regular Panamera. No surprises here as the Panamera handled Sepang’s wide variety of turns impressively given the speeds were cornering at, and the sheer weight and size of the Sport Turismo. The scary turn 5 & 6 complex, and the high-speed turn 12-14 sections proved to be the trickiest areas, and were it not for Porsche PSM (Porsche Stability Management), I would have needed up on the gravel trap on between turns 5 and 6. With 680hp and 850 Newton-Meters of torque from the combined petrol and electric propulsion systems, things can get very serious very quickly indeed. Coupled with a new, more efficient slick-shifting 8-speed Porsche PDK dual-clutch transmission that now boasts an amazing 24% efficiency over the previous 7-speed PDK, the Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid moves like a car half its weight, blessed with all the agility one expects from a Porsche, plus all the stability from a big, comfortable gran turismo.

Last activity was two laps around the Sepang GP Track in the record-breaking Porsche 918 Spyder. Despite being five years old, it still looks good in the flesh, and has perhaps the very best sounding normally aspirated V8 engine. With a combined 887hp, 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds, all-wheel drive thanks to two in-wheel electric motors up front, a 7-speed dual clutch PDK transmission and a carbon-fiber tub chassis, the 918 still enough to overwhelm the senses. Porsche Chief Driving Instructor Mattias Hoffsuemmer, who has spent arguably the most number of seat time in the 918 even after five years, took us to the track, and was genuinely enjoying himself for almost three hours. It was the most intense, physically demanding, mind-numbing, spine-jarring driving-related activity I had ever experienced, and I ended up throwing up a few minutes after the hot laps. But to be honest, I’d do it again, and again, and again in a heartbeat.

Porsche’s electrification of the future is inevitable. The challenge lies in partnering with energy firms to develop a supporting charging station infrastructure in Europe and the USA, as well gathering momentum to lobby with governments worldwide to help legislate laws supporting hybrids and electric vehicles. Currently, the Volkswagen Group, together with the Daimler Group (Mercedes-Benz), Ford, and BMW-MINI have partnered with Ionity to build a charging system with 400 fast chargers by 2020. In the USA, the Volkswagen Group has partnered with E-lectrify America, a power generating and distribution company to build 650+ fast charging sites throughout 17 metropolitan areas in the United States by the end of 2019. But that’s just the start.  More plans are afoot.

The electrified future truly looks bright and exciting, and Porsche is ready to take the plunge. Are you?