It wasn’t so long ago that purists were led to believe that Porsche would never put a diesel engine in any of its models. Then the Cayenne diesel emerged. Now the Zuffenhausen-based firm has just unveiled its Panamera diesel, and it is on its way to SA.
The Panamera makes use of the same 3,0-litre V6 diesel that does duty in the Cayenne, but offers slightly more power with 184 kW at 3 800 r/min. Torque remains the same with 550 N.m available between 1 750 and 2 750 r/min. Sending drive to the rear wheels is Porsche’s proven eight-speed tiptronic transmission system that helps the Panamera reach 100 km from standstill in 6,8 seconds. Top speed is a claimed 242 km/h.
Economy, fuel efficiency and the like are what it is all about these days. Porsche claims an emissions figure of 172 g/km and, with its 80-litre tank size, the Panamera is claimed to be able to cover 1 200 km of before its next top-up at the pumps.
Like its petrol-sipping siblings, the Panamera diesel comes with a full leather interior, Porsche active suspension Management (PASM), bi-xenon headlights, front and rear park assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic dimming rear view mirrors, and cruise control as standard.
South Africans will see the Panamera on Porsche Centre showroom floors in September this year.
