Strengths

Unmistakable styling, Porsche-standard performance and luxury, seating for four in well-appointed interior.

 

Changes

All new for 2010, the Porsche Panamera is offered in three separate models: The rear-wheel drive S, the all-wheel drive 4S, and the all-wheel drive Turbo. The S and 4S are powered by a 4.8L V8 making 400 horsepower, while the top of the line Turbo gets twin turbochargers, which bumps power output to 500 hp. Porsche's PDK 7-speed automatic transmission is the only available gearbox.

 

Value

Launched in 2010, the Panamera is Porsche's first 4-door 4-seat grand tourer. Its basic design is a complete departure from most of Porsche's rear and mid-engine sports car tradition, utilizing a front-mounted engine. The styling is unmistakably Porsche, with hints of 911 throughout but with an elongated shape that provides comfortable seating in the rear-even for passengers over 6 feet tall. It's perfect for those looking for the comfort and room of a BMW 7-series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, while wanting the performance and handling that is Porsche's trademark.

 

Overview

The Panamera fills the gap in Porsche's line between sports cars and the Cayenne SUV, offering high speed touring for four in a comfortable and spacious package. It's especially wide at 76 inches, and its 195 inch length and 55.8 inch height make for plenty of interior space, and its rear hatch gives good access to its 15.7-cubic feet of storage space. Flop the seatbacks down, and there's room for 44.6 cubic feet of luggage.

The center of the Panamera's body structure is steel, helping with rigidity, while the front frame sections, front double-wishbone suspension components, rear subframe and multilink suspension, hood, doors, and hatch are aluminum, which reduces excess weight. In all, the S weighs in at just 3,968 pounds-well under the Maserati Quattroporte or Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG-and weight at extreme ends of the chassis has been eliminated, giving excellent handling characteristics.

Three models are available: The rear-wheel drive S, and the all-wheel drive 4S and Turbo. The S and 4S are powered by Porsche's 32-valve 4.8L DOHC V8 making 400 horses and 369 pound-feet of torque, which pushes the S to a top speed of 175 mph and provides a 0-60 time of just 5.2 seconds. The 4S shares the same 175 mph top speed, but the addition of all wheel drive drops the 0-60 time to 4.8 seconds. The Turbo makes 500 horses, which Porsche claims allows it to sprint to 60 in just 4 seconds flat on its way to a 188 mph top speed.

Both the all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive models receive an updated version of Porsche's PDK 7-speed automatic, which has been given two main shafts rather than the three offered in the 911, allowing the unit to fit in a more narrow transmission tunnel and freeing up interior space. All models receive a stop-start system, which stops the engine when the car comes to a complete stop to save fuel. Once the brake is released, the engine is automatically restarted.

An available air suspension system allows control of the car's spring rate with the flip of a switch, automatically lowering the car's ride height. Porsche's Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) is also available, which de-couples the chassis' stabilizer bars when running in a straight line to increase ride quality, then automatically reengaging them in the corners for increased control. Several levels are selectable with a switch mounted on the dash. Porsche also offers a ceramic brake upgrade (PCCB), which reduces unsprung weight while also significantly improving braking performance.

The Panamera's interior features a liberal use of woodgrain, leather and brushed aluminum. The louvers on the air vents, the sunvisors, the interior mirror and front and rear consoles all available in leather trim. 18-way adjustable leather front seats and 8-way adjustable rears are standard, as well as a host of power options.

The Panamera is available for customization through Porsche's Exclusive & Teqipment service, offering an array of high-end options including a rear seat cooling box in the center console, which keeps drinks chilled and includes Porsche-crested glasses.

Rear seat entertainment is also available, which includes dual 7-inch flatscreen monitors mounted in the front seats' headrests, as well as individual DVD players and cordless headphones. Each side comes with a USB interface as well as several AV inputs.