We've been following the on-again, off-again news of the upcoming hybrid and diesel powertrain options on Porsche's Panamera, which is scheduled to go on sale starting next year. It seems that the hybrid is a lock and will be equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine offering 300 horsepower along with an extra hundred horsies from the electric motor. While that engine and motor combo will likely make the Porsche an extremely fast hybrid, rumor has it that the driver will be able to selectively choose how much power to extract from either power source. If this holds true, the Panamera hybrid sounds a heck of a lot more interesting today that it did just yesterday.

The other possible alternative powertrain for the Panamera is a diesel engine. While the Cayenne will get the 3.0L diesel engine from Audi, the Panamera could double that cylinder count by being bestowed with Audi's mammoth 6.0L V12 TDI, which punches out 500 horsepower along with an incredible 758 lb-ft of torque. In Audi's large Q7 SUV, that powerplant manages nearly 20 miles per gallon, and it should do considerably better in the low-slung Panamera if it indeed finds its way underhood. Expect all of these options to come at a high cost, as the normal six-cylinder Panamera is expected to fetch $127,000 and the higher spec. turbo V8 model will go for nearly $200 grand. Sounds like the upcoming four door Porsche hybrid will require very deep pockets.

[Source: Inside Line]

We're still not sure if Porsche's first production hybrid model will be the Cayenne SUV or Panamera sedan but we do know what the Panamera hybrid logo will look like. Porsche has registered the logo and trademark for the Panamera hybrid with the EU agency that handles trade and design marks known as OHIM. The logo uses a similar script to the one that Porsche has used for several decades. The Panamera hybrid is expected to debut in late 2009. Like the prototype Cayenne hybrid Porsche showed in 2007, the sedan will pair up a Volkswagen 3.6L V6 with an electric drive motor. The motor is mounted at the rear axle and reportedly able to propel the vehicle on battery power alone at steady state speeds of 70 mph. Thanks to Christian for the tip!

[Source: Autoblog.it, via German Car Blog]