By Nauman Farooq
This is the Panamera, Porsche’s first ever production car to have four doors. While Porsche had experimented with such concepts back in the 1970’s and the 1990’s, they never got past the prototype stage.
Porsche Panamera 4S
The problem with those earlier concepts was perhaps because they were nothing more than stretched 911’s to accommodate extra doors. The Panamera is a new car, from the ground up. Nothing about its platform has come from anything they currently make (although some technical bits are shared). This clean sheet design allowed Porsche to mould the platform to their exacting requirements. So everything from the position of the engine in the chassis to the positioning of the rear seats was done specifically for this car.
The end result is simply amazing, not that you can tell that by just looking at it. Let’s face it; this is not a pretty car. No matter which angle you look at it from, it’s not going to win your heart. The rear end especially is quite bulbous.
However, that is OK, because its interior is easily one of the best in the business. It does seem that Porsche allotted all their top designers to the interior department. Not only is this a very spacious four-seater (yes, it has bucket seats even in the rear, hence no middle seat for a fifth passenger), the ergonomics are spot on too. I love the center console, which seemed to have been inspired by the Vertu phone. All the buttons are well positioned and easy to read, and understanding which button does what is actually very simple. There is no BMW I-drive complication here, which will please many people. Customers will also be pleased by the toys it has to offer. Navigation system, touch screen interface, a brilliant sound system, etc., its all here. One feature I really appreciated was the heated steering wheel, which came in handy when I jumped in the car first thing in the morning.
However, none of the above mentioned features even come close to this cars very best feature, its engine. This front engine Porsche has a brand new motor, a 4.8-liter V8, which produces 400 hp and 370 lb/ft of torque. Mated to a seven-speed PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) twin-clutch gearbox (with steering wheel mounted shift buttons), power is sent either to the rear wheels (Panamera S) or to all-wheels (Panamera 4S) as in my test car provided by Downtown Porsche.
As for the typical question of how fast? The Panamera 4S will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in about 4.8 seconds. Top speed is 282 km/h.
If you want to go faster still, a Turbo model is also offered, which produces 500 hp. That can accelerate past 300 km/h.
Figures alone however are meaningless; it is all about how a car feels that separates one car from the next and the Panamera 4S feels spectacular. Over the years, many car companies have tried to make a four-door sports car, but they all lacked the feel of a true sportscar. Drive a Panamera for five minutes and you forget that it actually has big back seats and a very commodious trunk. Many auto journalists have said it feels like a 911, personally, I think it’s even better. Where a 911 is only great when being pushed on the track, the Panamera feels great everywhere. Whether you’re on a highway cruise, or on a deserted strip of twisty tarmac, the Panamera will plant a huge smile on your face.
Luxury car buyers might say it’s not as well insulated as a Mercedes-Benz S-class, but personally I think the Panamera offers the right amount of insulation. Its never harsh, but nor is it a sensory deprivation tank.
Throw in its excellent handling capabilities, and what you end up with is probably the most complete car I have ever come across. It’s a practical family car with all-wheel drive, so it can be used everyday, even in the Canadian climate. It manages 11-liters/100 km (city/highway combined), so it’s about as frugal as a mid-size sedan. But for occasions when you need a driver’s car, this family car rewards like a sportscar.
So this one car can do it all, which is a good thing, because with Panamera prices starting at $115,100 it’s not cheap either. Best to start saving immediately.
