Joining the 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars as well as the sporty SUV Cayenne, the Panamera is Porsche’s fourth model series.
The designers of the Panamera have succeeded in positioning this unique car as a brand-new and truly different model while nevertheless retaining the looks of a typical Porsche. Through its proportions alone, the Panamera stands out clearly in its market segment: measuring 1931 millimetres or 76.0 inches in width, the Panamera is wider, and measuring 1418 millimetres or 55.8 inches in height, lower than comparable four-door models. The unmistakable, sleek GT silhouette is created by the car’s overall length of 4970 millimetres or 195.7 inches and short, sporting overhangs front and rear. In its styling and details, the Panamera follows the design philosophy refined over decades on the 911 and successfully implemented also on the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne.
Through its design language alone, the Panamera will establish a new segment versus the competition. The symbiosis of sports car DNA derived from the looks of a coupé, the unique interpretation of the classical saloon body and the benefits of a variable space concept give the new Porsche its truly unmistakable appearance. As an example, the Panamera comes with highly individual, strongly contoured air intakes instead of a conventional radiator grille. Striking wheel arches and the long and sleek engine compartment lid create that typical 911 “landscape” at the front end of the car the Porsche customer has appreciated for no less than 45 years, with the distinctly contoured wings as flanks bordering on the flat front lid. The V-shaped seams along the engine compartment lid and the rear window tapering out like an arrow to the rear convey the features characteristic of a sports car to the new, highly individual Panamera class. The striking, muscular shoulders over the rear wheels, the dynamic sweep of the coupé-like roofline, and the visible tailpipes again bear out all the DNA so typical of a thoroughbred Porsche.
The elegant roof arch extends stylishly over the generous interior, simply begging the beholder to get inside. Like all Porsche models, the Panamera is oriented in every respect to the needs and wishes of the driver. But now, thanks to the new concept of space and the sporting architecture of the interior, the car’s occupants are also able to experience this special “pilot feeling” on all four seats. All four occupants enjoy supreme ergonomic comfort on both the front seats and the two firmly contoured single seats at the rear. The luggage compartment easily takes up all the passengers’ luggage. The variable space concept with its folding rear seat backrests enables the driver and passengers to adjust the luggage space individually to their personal requirements. And last but not least, the coupé tailgate in the sporting rear end combines superior suitability for daily use with stylish elegance.
Boasting a centre console leading back all the way from the dashboard to the rear seats, Porsche’s four-door Gran Turismo offers a new feeling of space and driving quality on all four seats. The interior provides optimum ergonomic conditions for the driver and, in addition, accentuates the personal privacy of each passenger on four single seats tailored to each occupant. The low seating position and the sporting, low-slung steering wheel ensure that direct feeling for the road so typical of Porsche.
Apart from these classic values, the Panamera offers the customer numerous options and possibilities to customise the interior individually to his or her personal choice, smooth and natural leather available in a total of 13 colour and material combinations including four bi-colour options teaming up wherever required with seven optional interior trim finish styles including exclusive materials such as Carbon and Olive Nature open-pore wood.
Four-zone automatic air conditioning is available as an option, providing individual adjustment of temperature, blower intensity and air distribution on each seat.
The driver and passengers in the new Panamera are protected by driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags as well as – on the front seats – side and knee airbags all ensuring maximum safety as standard features in the event of an accident. Side airbags are furthermore available at the rear as an optional feature.
The comfort seats featured as standard at the front of the Panamera S and 4S are extra-sporting in style and adjust electrically in eight different directions for excellent travel comfort at all times. At the rear two single seats with a folding centre armrest ensure generous legroom and headroom also for tall passengers.
The Panamera Turbo combines electrical seat adjustment with a Comfort Memory Package offering not only extension of the seat bottom, but also lumbar supports and electrical steering column adjustment. Further alternatives such as adaptive sports seats or comfort seats at the rear electrically adjustable to a wide range of different positions are likewise available as an option.
The new Panamera is the first Porsche to offer the most supreme standard of high-end audio quality, the High-End Surround Sound System from the Berlin audio specialist Burmester, one of the most renowned high-end audio companies in the world. Never before has such a large, acoustically effective surface of membranes been included in the concept from the start and subsequently implemented in the actual production vehicle. More than 2,400 square centimetres of sound membranes offer an experience in sound very similar to that of a live concert. In all, 16 loudspeakers masterminded by 16 amplifier channels with more than 1,000 W overall output provide a unique sound rounded off by an active subwoofer together with a 300 W Class D amplifier.
The superior everyday driving qualities of the Panamera are borne out clearly also by the luggage compartment and loading concept: After opening the rear lid, the driver and passengers are able to conveniently stow four suitcases behind the rear seats – putting them into the luggage compartment in an upright position for easy access thanks to the height available.
Luggage compartment capacity in the Panamera S and 4S is 445 litres or 15.6 cu ft, luggage compartment capacity in the Panamera Turbo is 432 litres or 15.1 cu ft – and with the rear seat backrests tilted down, luggage capacity increases to an ample 1,250 litres or 43.8 cu ft.
The Panamera is initially entering the market with V8 power units only, featuring either rear or all-wheel drive. Right from the start, the entry-level Panamera S is powered by a 4.8-litre V8 developing maximum output of 400 bhp (294 kW). Power is transmitted to the rear wheels as an option by Porsche’s seven-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) or double-clutch gearbox.
Acceleration to 100 km/h comes in 5.4 seconds, top speed is 283 km/h or 176 mph. Combined fuel consumption to the EU5 standard, in turn, is 10.8 ltr/100 km, equal to 26.2 mpg imp, and the CO2 emission rating is 253 g/km.
In conjunction with PDK transmission and including both 19 per cent VAT and specific national equipment, the Panamera S retails in Germany at a price of Euro 98,085.50.
Fitted with its six-speed manual gearbox as standard, the Panamera S retails at a price of Euro 94,575, again including 19 per cent VAT and all national homologation features.
The dynamic Panamera 4S features a 4.8-litre V8 developing 400 bhp (294 kW) maximum output, with engine power conveyed to all four wheels via Porsche’s seven-speed PDK Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. In this case acceleration to 100 km/h comes in 5.0 seconds, top speed is 282 km/h or 175 mph. Fuel consumption to the EU5 standard is 11.1 ltr/100 km, equal to 25.4 mpg imp, CO2 emissions are 260 g/km. The retail price including 19 per cent VAT and national specifications is Euro 102,251.
Ranking right at the top, the Panamera Turbo features a 4.8-litre V8 biturbo developing maximum output of 500 bhp (368 kW), with power transmitted again by Porsche’s seven-gear Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK). In this case this all-wheel-drive model accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 303 km/h or 188 mph. Fuel consumption in the EU combined cycle is 12.2 ltr/100 km, equal to 23.2 mpg imp, CO2 emissions are 286 g/km. The retail price of the Panamera Turbo, finally, including 19 per cent VAT and national specifications, is Euro 135,154.
All models come with Direct Fuel Injection, low-friction drive systems and lightweight bodyshells. And at the same time all models in the range fitted with Porsche PDK Doppelkupplungsgetriebe feature Porsche’s new Auto Start Stop function automatically switching off the engine when coming to a standstill and with the driver pressing down the brake pedal – for example at the traffic lights or in traffic congestion.
[Source: Porsche AG]
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