The Panamera fills the gap in Porsche's line between the automaker's sports coupes like the 911 and the luxury SUV, the Cayenne. The Panamera offers high-speed touring for four in a comfortable and spacious package. Especially wide at 76 inches, the Panamera's dimensions make for plenty of interior space. The car's 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 base Panamera weighs in at just 3,880 pounds--well under the Maserati Quattroporte or Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG--and Porsche has made a point to reduce weight at extreme ends of the chassis to give excellent handling characteristics.
Eight models are available: base, S, e-Hybrid, 4, 4S, GTS, Turbo and Turbo S.
The base model and the 4 are powered by a 310-hp 3.6L V6. The S and 4S are powered by Porsche's twin-turbo 3.0L V6, which makes 420 horses and 384 lb-feet of torque. The GTS is powered by a 440-hp 4.8L V8, while the Turbo gets a turbocharged version of that 4.8L that makes 520 horsepower while the Turbo S gets an even more powerful version that makes 570 horses.
The e-Hybrid combines a 3.0L supercharged V6 and an improved-for-2014 electric motor to make a combined 333 horses. For 2014, the Panamera Hybrid adds a plug-in option, meaning with a full battery charge, it can go for 20 miles on electric-power only. Once that battery energy is depleted, the vehicle reverts to conventional hybrid mode, where the battery and electric motor assist in acceleration to save fuel. Porsche claims the Panamera e-Hybrid can fully recharge that battery with around 20 miles of normal driving, an unusual feature for plug-in hybrids.
All Panameras feature a 7-speed automatic, the only transmission available. All models also get 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. This system can be manually deactivated, if desired.
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. Optional Dynamic Chassis Control de-couples the chassis' stabilizer bars when running in a straight line to increase ride quality, then automatically reengages 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, 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 Executive variant, available with the 4S, Turbo and Turbo S models, adds 5.9 inches to the wheelbase. This adds extra legroom for the rear passengers.
The Panamera is available for customization through Porsche's Exclusive & Tequipment 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, featuring 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 A/V inputs.
Unmistakable Styling, Porsche-standard Performance And Luxury, Seating For Four In Well-appointed Interior
Hybrid Powertrain Available
The exterior of the 2014 Panamera gets some mild refreshing. Porsche adds a plug-in hybrid version of the Panamera with a new higher-capacity battery and stronger electric motor than the ones that came in last year's Hybrid. It also gets longer versions of the Turbo S model, called "Executive." The Platinum trims don't return.
The S trims now get a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 that makes 420 horsepower. It replaces the 3.6L V6 from last year.
The Panamera's front engine design may depart with traditional Porsche design, but its elongated shape provides comfortable seating for everyone--even for passengers over 6 feet tall. It features up to 45 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. And, it wouldn't be a Porsche if it didn't out-handle and out-accelerate almost everything else on the road. Two hybrid models bring performance and green credibility, while the Turbo S could be the most powerful station wagon available.
The base trim starts at around $78,000, but there is no other car available that looks, handles, or hauls like a Panamera.
