Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo concept: The Panamera gets a little uglier, and a little greener

By Stephen Edelstein Published October 1, 2012

Porsche’s Panamera four-door was already a it misshapen, so making it into a station wagon probably wasn’t the best idea. Nonetheless, Porsche did just that, creating the Panamera Sport Turismo, a performance hybrid concept that was recently unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

Porsche says the Sport Turismo previews what a future, more practical, sports car could look like. The result is a car that looks almost identical to a normal Panamera, but with upright tailgate instead of the production car’s noncommittal hatchback. If nothing else, this should make the Sport Turismo and excellent tire hauler for owners of Porsche’s 918 Spyder hybrid supercar. Still, it doesn’t seem like an aesthetically pleasing future.

Recommended Videos

The Sport Turismo is also the first four-door Porsche to get an “e-hybrid” badge, the branding Weissach will use for all of its future plug-in hybrids. The powertrain consists of a supercharged V6 and an electric motor; total system output is 416 horsepower.

The 9.4 kWh lithium ion battery pack takes 2.5 hours to charge, and get the Sport Turismo 18.6 miles, at speeds up to 80 mph, before the gasoline engine kicks in. When the driver isn’t trying to conserve energy, this plug-in Porsche will get from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) in under six seconds.

As with most other plug-in hybrids, the Sport Turismo comes with multiple driving modes. The default mode prioritizes electric motoring; the driver can deactivate this mode with a button on the steering wheel if he or she wants to pull away with more vigor.

With the gasoline engine on, the driver can also prioritize battery charging over electric propulsion, saving up their battery power for situations such as city driving that can be handled in electric-only mode.

The interior offers a more streamlined version of the stock Panamera’s button-cluttered cockpit, with a two-tone finish like the one that is optional on the 911. The inclinced center console is still there, but most of the buttons have been replaced by a Star Trek-like touchpad.

The traditional gauge cluster is replaced with a TFT color display that can call up everything from maps to the tachometer. Monitors on either side of the main display show images from exterior cameras that take the place of side view mirrors.

Instead of a physical starter button, the Sport Turismo is activated via a touchpad on the left side of the dashboard display.

Porsche is always trying to expand its lineup, especially with deviations of existing models, so a production Panamera Sport Turismo isn’t out of the question. For now, it remains an ugly, but technologically advanced, concept.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Topics

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.