While most of the motoring fraternity had an idea of the Porsche Panamera would look like on the outside months in advance, all the spy shots and renderings in the world could shed absolutely no light on its interior until these official photographs were released.
Apart from the unique “comfort” seats, standard on the Panamera S and 4S, another strong feature is the facia dropdown that eventually becomes a wide centre console tunnel and extends all the way into the rear of the cabin – making the Panamera a strict four-seater.
The sporting comfort seats adjust electrically in eight different directions for excellent travel comfort at all times. At the rear two single seats with a folding centre armrest thanks to the centre console ensure generous legroom and headroom for taller rear passengers – even though the Panamera’s sloping roofline might suggest otherwise.
Between the numerous colour and material combinations available, other features include four-zone automatic air-conditioning, Comfort Memory Package for the Turbo model – which comprises of electrical adjustment for the seat bottom, lumbar support and steering column. The driver and front passenger airbags are supplemented by curtain airbags, as well as side and knee bags – with side airbags optional at the rear.
Porsche is also keen to note that the Panamera is its first model to offer the highest standard of audio quality in the High-End Surround Sound System from Berlin-based audio specialist Burmester. Some 2 400 square centimetres of sound membranes mean aural delight from 16 loudspeakers run off 16 amplifier channels with more than 1,000 W overall output – as well as an active subwoofer mated with a 300 W Class D amplifier.
Porsches have always been hailed as “everyday supercars” and Zuffenhausen has brought this concept to a whole new level of usability in the Panamera, which boasts 445 dm3 of boot space with the rear backrests up, and 1 250 dm3 with them folded.
The Panamera will initially be made available with V8 engines only, mated with either rear or all-wheel drive systems. The entry-level Panamera S is powered by a 4,8-litre V8 that develops 294 kW, while the power is transmitted to the rear wheels via Porsche’s seven-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox. Porsche claims the zero to 100 km/h sprint is completed in 5,4 seconds, while the Panamera S chases a 283 km/h top speed and consumes an average 10,8-litres/100 km.
The Panamera 4S features the same powerplant mentioned above, but as its name suggests, all engine power is conveyed to all four wheels via Porsche’s seven-speed PDK. Zero to 100 km/h flashes by in 5,0 seconds.
Right at the top of the Panamera line rests the Turbo, with a 4,8-litre biturbo V8 powerplant that develops 368 kW. Mated with Porsche’s PDK and all-wheel drive system, it rushes 100 km/h from standstill in 4.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 303 km/h.
All models feature Direct Fuel Injection, low-friction drive systems and lightweight bodyshells. All models in the range fitted with Porsche PDK feature a new Auto Start Stop function, which automatically switches off the engine when coming to a standstill with the driver pressing down the brake pedal – for example at the traffic lights or in traffic congestion.
European pricing roughly translates into a little over R1,2 million for the six-speed manual Panamera S, while its big brother Turbo fetches in excess of R1,7 million.