The Porsche Panamera is an all-new model to the Porsche family, bringing sports car performance and untraditional styling to the full-size premium class. A new Porsche is a big deal, and an all-new Porsche — especially one with four doors and a hatchback — is practically an historic event.
The German sports car maker is trying to appeal with Porsche’s new four door Panamera, at least in part, to your sensible side. It’s inherent practicality, with four doors, four seats and a hatchback style trunk with a reasonable amount of cargo room, making the Panamera much easier to convince yourself into over one of Porsche’s many two-seater sports cars.
All models are equipped with Porsche’s new PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Porsche is also planning a hybrid variant of the Panamera, though the automaker failed to disclose any further details. The turbocharged version will come standard with all-wheel-drive. Rear-wheel-drive will be standard otherwise with four-wheel propulsion a line-wide option.
The one surprise is the size of the Panamera. It is longer and wider than a Mercedes CLS — probably its closest competitor — so care is needed in tight spaces, and the backup camera comes in handy when parking.
Porsche has developed powerful and up-to-date engines for the Panamera, reflecting the qualities typical of the brand; the V-engines come with six and eight cylinders and output ranges from 300 to 500 horsepower. Some engines use turbocharging technology and Direct Fuel Injection, making them both fuel-efficient and very powerful. Power flows to the wheels through either a manual six-speed gearbox or Porsche’s seven-speed PDK Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or Double-Clutch Gearbox.
All agreed that the Panamera’s cabin is exquisite. Center console looks busy but was easy to learn, at least after multiple hits of coffee, Mountain Dew, and Vivarin.
There are few cars on the planet that really push you back into the seat. We’re not talking about a slight tap or a nudge, we’re talking about a burly lumberjack putting his two hands on your shoulders and making sure you leave an indent in that pricey leather coated sport seat.
An elegant roof arch extends over the generous interior. The car’s occupants are able to experience a cockpit-like atmosphere from all four seats. The luggage compartment easily takes all passengers’ luggage; the Panamera’s variable space concept with folding rear backrests enables driver and passengers to adjust the luggage space to individual requirements. Finally, the coupe tailgate in the sporting rear end combines everyday usability with stylish elegance.
Standard safety features include ten airbags, bi-xenon adaptive headlights with LED daytime running lights, rain sensing wipers, full LED rear lighting, four belt pretensioners and electronic traction and stability control. A small sample of optional tech features include Bluetooth, rearview camera, electronic logbook, Burmester high-end audio system, twin-screen rear entertainment system, voice activation, servotronic steering, active anti-roll bars and ceramic composite brakes.
