The name is the same but Porsche’s latest Panamera 4S loses its normally aspirated V8 and gains a biturbo V6 that’s not only more powerful but 20% more fuel efficient.
Was it a directive from the Volkswagen Group’s management or was it Porsche’s own executives who decided on a hatchback body for the firm’s first big four-door model? Either way, the decision means the Panamera offers something unique in the full sized luxury car class. It might even be a link to the past, with the rear end styling not a million miles away from the 928 of the 1970s-1990s.
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The five-door layout of the Panamera means in theory, it doesn’t gobble up potential Audi A8 and S8 sedan customers. In practice, these cars are pretty much all seeking the same lessees, but the big Porsche gives the Volkswagen Group more firepower. A long wheelbase body, which isn’t offered in the UK, is essential for China and is proving one of the reasons why the Panamera continues to sell well there.
Porsche is masterful at keeping its cars selling throughout their life cycles and the Panamera is no exception. The model’s public debut was at the Shanghai motor show in April 2009, with sales commencing the next month. By May 2013, the 100,000th example had been delivered.
The launch range comprised the (400hp 4.8-litre V8) rear-wheel drive S and four-wheel drive 4S, as well as the (500hp 4.8-litre) Turbo. A base version, the (295hp 3.6-litre V6) Panamera and its AWD variant, the Panamera 4, followed in the second half of 2010. Depending on the engine, a six-speed manual or dual clutch seven-speed PDK with stop-start originally featured.
The S Hybrid derivative was added from mid-2011, following its world premiere three months previously at the Geneva motor show. A Turbo S variant (410kW/550hp 4.8-litre biturbo V8) also began to reach European market dealerships from June 2011, followed two months later by the Panamera diesel (184kW/250hp 3.0-litre V6, rear-wheel drive only).
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By GlobalDataYet another variant, the GTS, had its world premiere at the Los Angeles auto show in November 2011. It went on sale during 2012, powered by a 316kW (430hp) version of the existing 4.8-litre normally aspirated V8.
The revisions and updates to the range continued into 2013, when a plug-in hybrid model replaced the S Hybrid. The long wheelbase ‘Executive’ variants had their world premieres at the Shanghai motor show in April 2013. These are most popular in China, the US and Germany. A range facelift also debuted at AutoShanghai, as did a new biturbo 3.0-litre V6 engine for the Panamera S and Panamera 4S. A few months later, a revised Diesel joined the line-up, its power rising to 300hp from the original 250hp.
The most recent news was the arrival of 570hp (up 20hp) versions of the Turbo S and Turbo S Executive, these cars going on sale in early 2014.
The big difference in driving the 4S compared to the original is of course the different engine note. The 420hp turbo V6 has a capacity of 2,997cc and develops its maximum torque of 520Nm at between 1,750 and 5,000rpm. It lacks the big-bore burbling bass of the old V8 but an optional louder exhaust can be activated at the press of a button on the centre console. The cost of the Sports exhaust is a steep GBP2015 but once you’ve heard it, you have to have it. It’s not as bellowy as a 911 with the same option but given the target buyers, that’s no surprise.
The 90-degree V6 has VarioCam Plus (variable inlet valve lift) and direct injection, along with stop-start. The engine’s redline is at 6,700rpm but maximum power is developed 700rpm below that. The test car being a 4S, drive is sent to all wheels via an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch (Porsche Traction Management: PTM) and a seven-speed Doppelkupplung (PDK).
The suspension can be ordered with air springs to lift the car for steep driveways (GBP1,327) and this is also an adaptive system. The front axle has aluminium double wishbones and coil springs with internal, hydraulic coaxial gas pressurised dampers. Aluminium is also used for the rear end, with a sub-frame and multi-link arrangement.
Unladen, the official DIN weight is 1,870kg which compares favourably with rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, aforementioned A8/S8 and others such as the Maserati Quattroporte. The boot isn’t the biggest, with a cubic capacity of 445 litres, but you can flip the seats and free up 1,263 litres.
I didn’t personally verify the accuracy of the 286km/h claimed top speed but given that the official 0-62mph time is 4.8 seconds and 0-125mph takes just 17.3 seconds I don’t doubt that it will indeed eventually reach 178mph. You also don’t need to feel too guilty about a warming planet if you drive a 4S: CO2 is ‘only’ 208g/km and the Combined average is 31.7mpg.
It’s the high speed stability and braking power that always impresses with Porsches. All-wheel drive is undoubtedly a factor in the security you sense but the steering too is oh so sharp yet never twitchy. Lift the bonnet and see how far back the engine sits and you soon realise here is another reason why the car feels near perfectly balanced. Compared to other big executive cars, in this one you sit low which helps with the whole sports-car feeling.
You won’t forget how big a vehicle you’re driving, but most of the time, it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s 5,015mm long. That length does come into play on the kinds of fast, narrow roads where a 911 or even a Boxster would out-gun it, with the 1,931mm width also meaning you sometimes back off in tighter corners. An S-Class with the right engine and Magic Body Control would keep up but a Lexus LS, the other big seller worldwide in this segment, wouldn’t see which way the Benz or the Porsche went.
Given that there’s no right-hand drive production of the Executive, I don’t think you’d feel embarrassed with the standard wheelbase car should you need to transport taller passengers. I friend who’s six foot two had enough space to sit comfortably in the back with five foot ten of me in front. The press review car model was a four-seater, which means a big console over the transmission tunnel which doubles as an armrest.
The cost of turbocharged V6 sports-luxury travel is GBP85,721, for which Porsche gives you heated seats, ParkAssist, driver’s door and key fob remote tailgate opening, Bi-xenon headlights, cruise control and multiple other niceties. Some options you might want include a reversing camera and surround view (GBP1,271), soft close doors (GBP477) and/or four-zone climate control (GBP801).
