After revealing its highly digitized cockpit, Porsche has finally unwrapped the third-generation Panamera. It carries with it a fresher, more expressive design, and a broader level of performance that’s both more dynamic and more comfortable than ever.
Standard across the line is the Porsche Active Suspension Management and its dual-chamber two-valve air suspension system. This allows the rebound and compression stages of the damper to be separated allowing for improved absorption of road ruts and cracks, while also increasing stability when pushed.
An optional extra is the Porsche Active Ride active suspension system. In this case, a similar two-valve air suspension system is supplemented by a single-chamber air suspension system that adjusts the ride height depending on the situation. For example, during hard cornering, the Panamera would be able to lean like a motorcycle would thanks to the front end being pulled down during accelerating, and the rear when decelerating.
The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid features a revised 4.0-liter V8 turbo engine that’s supplemented by a 190-horsepower electric motor. All in all, it makes 680 horsepower and 930 Nm. Porsche integrated the electric motor into the housing of the comprehensively redesigned eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
This version allows a 0 to 100 km/h sprint of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 315 km/h. Its battery capacity is now 25.9 kWh, allowing an all-electric range of 91 kilometers. A new 11 kW on-board AC charger shortens the charging time at suitable charging points to 2 hours and 39 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Panamera and Panamera 4 variants feature an optimized version of the 2.9-liter V6 turbo engine. It now generates 353 horsepower and 500 Nm—an increase of 23 horsepower and 50 Nm compared to before. This shortens the Panamera’s sprint to 100 km/h to 5.1 seconds and boosts its top speed to 272 km/h. The all-wheel drive Panamera 4 now takes 4.8 seconds and reaches 270 km/h.
Size-wise, the Panamera retains the characteristic lines and proportions of the model line. It measures 5,052 mm in length (Executive: 5,202 mm) and is 1,937 mm wide and 1,423 mm high (Executive: 1,428 mm). Up front, an additional air intake above the number plate compensates for the increased air requirement of the drive systems. The redesigned window line in the sideview reinforces the sedan character of the four-door sports car. The outer edges of the rear window are flush with the contour of the body, creating harmonious lines at the rear of the car.
Matrix LED headlights is standard across all Panamera models, while the high-resolution HD Matrix LED lighting system (with more than 32,000 pixels per headlight) is available as an option. Opting for the HD Matrix LED lighting system unlocks new features such as dedicated lane brightening and an illumination range that goes up to 600 meters.
Model variants bearing the Turbo name enjoys more differentiation. Externally, it is characterized by a distinctive rear bumper with painted diffuser panels and a unique front bumper in body color. There are also chrome-plated tailpipes in dark bronze and optional center-lock wheels, which can also be specified on the other Panamera models too.
The Turbo-exclusive color Turbonite is used as a contrast on the side window strips and the Turbo logo on the tailgate, as well as in the Porsche crest on the hood and wheels.
Inside, the Porsche Driver Experience cockpit concept features the ideal balance between digital and analogue control elements and positions the input and output elements essential for driving along the driver’s axis. The gear selector lever is directly to the right of the steering wheel. The mode switch for the Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving programs and the assistance control stalks are also directly accessible to the driver.
An optional passenger display closely integrates the passenger into the driving experience. The 10.9-inch screen displays vehicle performance data on request. It also allows operation of the infotainment system and supports video streaming while the car is in motion. In order to avoid distracting whomever is behind the wheel, the passenger display cannot be seen from the driver’s seat.
For Tubo models, the same Turbonite motif is combined with carbon elements to create a sporting ambience. It can be found, for example, in the steering wheel, the central rev-counter in the instrument cluster and as the color of the controls in the center console.
In terms of safety, the new Panamera now has a standard active speed assistant which interacts with traffic sign recognition. If the system is active, the Panamera will not automatically drive faster than the appropriate speed limit. Porsche InnoDrive including adaptive cruise control features active lane guidance and junction assist. A swerve assistant is now also part of the range of functions. Also new is that, during automatic parking, the driver no longer has to be in the car, although they are still responsible for the maneuver. The parking process can be monitored from a smartphone with the new Remote ParkAssist function.
The new Porsche Panamera is available to order now with deliveries, starting in Europe, to commence by March 2024. It will be produced at its Leipzig factory.
Good to know it still has V6 and V8 engines on offer.
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