Porsche is diving head-first into the vat of battery acid these days – with the Panamera S E-Hybrid refreshed with quad-LEDs in the headlamp ring and the new Cayenne S E-Hybrid sharing the square-LED quad DRL setup of the top-line Cayenne Turbo and Cayenne Turbo S.
Proudly on display alongside the 918 Spyder and a few Porsche PHEV plug-in stations on the lawns of Amelia Island Concours, the E-Mobility Porsches are promising and smoother, quieter and more serene than anything else to wear the Porsche crest.![2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid led hadligt](http://www.car-revs-daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-Porsche-Cayenne-S-E-Hybrid-led-hadligt1.gif)
This is largely thanks to softer suspension tuning in standard drive modes, alongside a torque-converter eight-speed automatic. This slushbox is a big change versus the PDK auto that is typically the only PRNDL choice for these two four-door porkers.
In white with polished wheels and dark-painted inner spokes, the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid and Cayenne S E-Hybrid are still rocking the bright-green color accent on the badges, brake calipers and other detailing. This is starting to feel dated, as is the super-premium pricing of the E-Hybrid models from Porsche. Considering the half-price gasoline in the USA versus this time a year ago, the $35,000 premium for the hybrid models over base V6 engines is starting to feel quite unnecessary indeed.![2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid LED brakelights](http://www.car-revs-daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-Porsche-Cayenne-S-E-Hybrid-LED-brakelights1.gif)
Atop that, the resale value of every plug-in hybrid vehicle was recently cited in KBB.com as a major drag on resale values. Anything with a plug and a gas engine — or all pure EVs bar the Tesla Model S — typically are worth 25-percent less than its gasoline or diesel equivalent after 3 years. That is a dramatic loss in value. Buyers prepared to shell out $150k for a new Porsche hybrid are surely smart enough to know a bad value when they see one.
At least until gasoline spikes again, the Porsche E-Mobility push is feeling quite out-of-touch with the times in Spring 2015. That might explain the Turbo-style details in the LEDs of these pluggers….![2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 87](http://www.car-revs-daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-Porsche-Cayenne-S-E-Hybrid-87-800x480.jpg)
POST SCRIPT:
Why are they jacking up these precious Porsches in a few of the photos? To make sure the wheel caps and their Porsche emblems are laser-level on all four wheels! Impressive. Prestige Autos US is the fleet of choice, from Porsche USA’s hometown in the ATL.
2015 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid
2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
![2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 70](http://www.car-revs-daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-Porsche-Cayenne-S-E-Hybrid-70-800x480.jpg)
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Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.