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Porsche Panamera S

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Posted on 13 December 2011 by SACarFan

Posted on 24 June 2010 by Scott Hayes

Earlier this month news of the first Porsche Panamera race car surfaced on the web. Pictures were sketchy, but this past weekend the N.Technology team went testing in their Panamera S racer and we can now get a far better look at their Superstar Series contender.

The non-stop 2-day test was held at Vallelunga, in preparation for the race debut in the Superstars Series on July 24th and 25th at Mugello, Italy.

With 8 touring car titles and 2 years in FIA World Touring Car Championship, Fabrizio Giovanardi has been chosen to pilot the racing sedan and was behind the wheel for the test days as the team gathered data. The Italian driver completed 32 laps on the first day with a best lap of 1:42.736. On Day 2, he came back for more testing in both dry and wet conditions. He improved his lap time with a fastest lap of 1:42.704.

The objective, as stated by team manager Tiziano Minuti, was to observe the behavior of the Porsche Panamera S in relation to different calibrations and set up configurations adopted. “We are extremely satisfied. We didn’t experience a single inconvenience and the car turned out to be very sensitive to adjustments” said Minuti. The rain factor proved quite valuable for the team in order to collect some different sets of data. “For most part, we lapped with old tyres and a lot of fuel on board – continued Minuti – we have to learn the car’s basics, rather than go for one fast lap.”

N.Technology chose the Porsche Panamera S as a result of their research and analysis of the present and future motorsport scenario on a commercial, technical sporting and regulations point of view as posted in their site.

Posted on 17 February 2010 by Scott Hayes

Porsche has expanded the Panamera line-up with a new entry-level V6 petrol engine, which will go on sale in the UK in June. The new 3,6-litre engine receives direct fuel-injection, a stop-start system and produces 220 kW with 400 N.m of torque. The new engine will be available in the rear-wheel drive Panamera and four-wheel drive Panamera 4 models, which both use Porsche’s PDK double-clutch gearbox as standard.

Being the most economical engine in the range, the Panamera returns 9.3 l/100km, while the Panamera 4 averages 9.6 l/100km on the combined cycle. CO2 emissions are 218g/km and 225g/km respectively. Porsche claims the brand-new engine is approximately 30 kg lighter than the V8 units in the Panamera S and 4S.

Standard equipment includes steel suspension with xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, tyre pressure monitoring, automatic dimming rear view mirrors, Porsche Communication Management with touch-screen satellite navigation and audio controls and cruise control. Options include variable dampers and full adaptive air suspension with 19-inch alloy wheels.

Read our impressions on the new Porsche Panamera here.

Posted on 04 February 2010 by Scott Hayes

Just over four years ago a concept team in Weissach, Germany, was given the task of creating the Panamera and, to a certain extent, the brief they received was filled with contradictory demands. They were asked to create a luxury four-seater saloon, with the design characteristics of a coupe, that could be driven like a sports car.

For us, the question of whether the Panamera would be a sales success is one easily answered by the proven success of the Cayenne, which at first may have appeared as the antithesis of a Porsche, in the form of the high-riding, four-door SUV. The Cayenne has sold remarkably well and started a paradigm shift in the perceptions of what a Porsche should or could be. Some may not be convinced by the Panamera’s claims, but as our time in the car proved, the Panamera is a thoroughbred Porsche through-and-through.

Admittedly, the styling remains unconvincing. With a wheelbase of 2.92 meters, short overhangs front and rear and despite being marginally shorter than its competitors at 4.97 meters, the Panamera looks decidedly awkward when viewed from the side, with the sleek front seemingly mismatched to the bulbous rear. The 20-inch alloy wheels are a recommended option and help to achieve improved visual proportions. Viewed from the front, the Panamera features typical Porsche design characteristics with its bonnet lower than the side fenders and air scoops rather than a centre mounted front grille. Visually, the rear is the most contentious aspect of the new Panamera and although it incorporates design cues such as the shoulders, tail-lights and sloping rear window, from the 911 and Cayman, it remains the most talked about and least admired aspect of the car. Having said that, however, we did find that when following the Panamera, the bulk of the car is out of sight and combined with the low roofline, wide tyres, quad-exhausts and muscular shoulders, the sports car enigma is replaced by a moment of clarity – the Porsche DNA surfaces.

Beneath the large rear hatch lies a spacious 445-litre boot, expandable to 1 250-litres with the rear seats folded down, to create a completely flat cargo area. The interior boasts extensive use of leather. The rear seats are electrically adjustable as an option and cosset rear passengers with their individually sculptured and bolstered design, reminiscent of individual bucket style seats, as they are separated by an extended centre console. Personal comfort is guaranteed for any and all passengers travelling in the Panamera, with generous personal space coupled with all the features and functions expected in a premium luxury saloon. An array of optional features and equipment is available for the Panamera, but one in particular, alludes to the quality standard Porsche has set for its new Panamera. Standard on all Panamera models is an already high quality sound system supplied by Bose. But, for those who’d like something special, the Panamera is also available with a 16-speaker Burmester sound system. Delivering more than 1 000 Watts of overall output, Burmester car audio systems are an entertainment luxury previously reserved for the exclusive group of Bugatti Veyron owners.

The driving seat is where the thrills originate from in the Panamera. Eight-way electrically adjustable front seats, along with a harmonious blend of comfort and support, ensure a

Now we could go on about the anti-misting sensor that monitors the temperature of the windows and the relative humidity around them in order to monitor the dew point and automatically prevent misting. We could also mention the 3D solar sensor that monitors the angle and intensity of the sun to automatically adjust the climate control for each passenger on an individual basis if necessary. But really, it’s the driving experience delivered by the Panamera that stands out above all else.

Endowed with a 4,8-litre V8 engine the Panamera S and 4S, both offer 294 kW and 500 N.m of torque between 3 500 rpm and 5 000 rpm. Despite weighing 1 800 kg when equipped with the PDK gearbox (1 860 kg’s for the Panamera 4S), the Panamera S still manages a sprint to 100 km/h from a standing start in just 5.6 seconds, while the 4S achieves the same in 5.0 seconds flat when fitted with the Sports Chrono Package.

On the move, steering response is direct and allows one to place the car with

Mountain passes might force you to adopt a more sedate pace when travelling in other sedans, but with the Panamera it’s a chance to revel in the sheer brilliance of Porsche engineering. Press the ‘Sport Plus’ button – fitted with the Sports Chrono Package on PDK equipped models – and the adjustable air suspension releases pressure to lower the car by 25 mm, while increasing the spring rate. The additional reduction in the car’s centre of gravity and more aggressive suspension setting give the Panamera agility that, for a near 2-tonne sedan, seemingly

With its twin-turbo 4,8-litre V8 producing 368 kW and 700 N.m of torque (770 Nm with the overboost function in Sport Plus mode) the Panamera Turbo offers

Although phenomenally quick and thrilling to exploit whenever the opportunity arises, the power of the Panamera Turbo is excessive. The Panamera S and 4S, fitted with PDK were equally as engaging to drive and despite being 74 kW more modest, proved equally proficient in all tasks asked of them.

The only element of the Panamera we didn’t enjoy are the two steering wheel mounted paddles used to control the PDK transmission. Unlike the traditional pull action to change up on the right or down on the left, Porsche allow you to achieve the same on either paddle, but most confusingly, the driver is required to press the paddle to change up and pull it to change down. A configuration which does not come as second nature when barreling through a mountain pass in the obscenely quick super saloon.

Porsche have achieved a milestone with the Panamera, not just as a complete package but also in the individual technologies and engineering that combine to make the car more than just the sum of its parts. A benchmark super saloon that will expand preconceived ideas of what a true Porsche is all about.

Base Price R1 040 000 R1 065 000 R1 665 000
Engine Capacity (cm³) 4 806 4 806 4 806
No. Of Cylinders 8-cylinders,V-Formation 8-cylinders,V-Formation 8-cylinders,V-Formation
Aspiration NaturallyAspirated NaturallyAspirated Twin-Turbocharged
Power (kW @ rpm) 294 @ 6 500 294 @ 6 500 368 @ 6 000
Torque (Nm @ rpm) 500 @ 3 500 500 @ 3 500 700 @ 2 250(770 overboost)
Transmission 6-Speed manual or7-Speed PDK 7-Speed PDK 7-Speed PDK
Drive type Rear-wheel drive All-wheel drive All-wheel drive
0 – 100 km/h 5.6 seconds 5.0 seconds 4.2 seconds
Top Speed (km/h) 285 or283 (PDK) 282 303
Fuel Consumption(combined cycle) 12.5 l/100km or 10.8 l/100km (PDK) 11.1 l/100km 12.2 l/100km