Porsche announced the Panamera S Hybrid last week, and has updated that announcement with two new promo videos for its latest hybrid. The videos provide some nice footage of the car driving around scenic parts of Europe’s urban and rural enclaves.

The Panamera S Hybrid is Porsche’s most efficient car ever. It features a 333-hp 3.0-liter V6 engine, a 47-hp electric motor, NiMh batteries, and an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission. It’ll hit the U.S. market later this year with a base price of $95,000.

See what it’s all about after the jump. [via Motor Authority]

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Touring Superleggera Continental Flying Star

A new Autocar article citing “sources at the highest level” of Bentley indicates that Bentley is chewing on the idea of a five-door fastback in the same vein as the Porsche Panamera. The conversation is part of a larger discussion on whether the company needs to expand the Continental line past the models already offered. The five-door Contlimera is said to be the most popular of potential additions. Before a five-door becomes a reality, a new GT coupe is expected to launch with a market date of 2012.

Frankly, a Continental five-door makes more sense to me than the Porsche version. [via Autocar]

The Porsche Panamera isn’t exactly the best-looking Porsche on its own. Still, it’s a quality piece of automobile that took home the Bloomberg Car of the Year at the end of last year. Had Porsche had the same vision as Mansory, it probably wouldn’t have ever been considered.

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Buying a Toyota Corolla and having it recalled a few months later is an irritation, but spending $90,000 on a stunning example of German engineering bearing the Porsche shield only to have it recalled for faulty seat belts has got to be a real kick in the pants.

Porsche has had to recall all 11,300 Panameras for possible safety issues related to the seat belt tensioners. In short, the seat belt can become detached from its anchor if the seat is pushed into an “extreme” forward position. Porsche will repair the issue in affected vehicles, a repair that it expects to take only 15 minutes or so. Those with questions can contact Porsche at 800-PORSCHE (800-767-7243). [via Autoweek]

I’ve always wanted to frantically hop in the back of a cab and yell at the cabby: “Follow that car! And step on it!” Who hasn’t really? Only if I’d known there was a Porsche Panamera taxi rolling around out there, I’d have probably done it already. And I reckon I would have caught up with the car pretty quickly. What I’d do from there is a question I’m glad I don’t have to answer.

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When it comes to sports cars, matte black will always be the new black. Just look how much faster and more down to business the Porsche Panamera looks when covered in low-sheen black. The Black Edition designed by German firm Techart is a tuning package that begins with the matte black vinyl film that first captures your attention in all the pictures. Other changes include an aerodynamics kit with side skirts, spoilers and aprons, 22-inch alloy wheels that continue the black theme, four-pipe sport exhaust and new brake calipers.

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Based on some recently leaked European patent drawings, Porsche is moving full-steam ahead with a Panamera convertible. Those that like the Panamera should be happy that it’ll be available in a open-sky version, and those that don’t will be entirely unimpressed by the pictures below. The Panamera’s four-doors don’t exactly translate into the sleekest convertible–it’s more upper-class soccer mom than Christie Brinkley, but it certainly provides a new option (if not new look) to Porsche’s line-up.

It’s impossible to tell whether there’s a hard or soft top sitting in back of that hollow shell, but take look at the drawings below and see what you think. [via Inside Line]

There’s something absolutely enthralling about an all-out street battle between two venerable, high-end supermobiles. Even if the cars sport four doors, if they bear names like Porsche and Aston Martin, we want to see them race. Like two undefeated heavyweights going into the ring for the first time, each bears its own hefty reputation. But after battle, only one can come out victorious.

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While it’s unclear if Porsche will ever revive the 928 with a coupe version of the Panamera, at least one person likes the potential there and Photoshopped his very own version. Designed by a member of Teamspeed forums, the design looks like a pretty solid picture of what a Panamera-based 928 could look like. We’d hope that the front end would get shortened in a real-life version, as this rendition is a bit front-heavy–in fact, the entire car could use to get shortened up. Other than that, we’d rather drive one of these than an actual Panamera. Would you like to see this one added to Porsche’s showrooms? [via Carscoop]