In comparison with the previous Porsche Panamera,the wheelbase has been extended 1.1 inches to 116.1 inches,with the front axle relocated forward half an inch relative to the firewall.The base of the windshield has also been moved back 0.8 inch,and the roof-line,even though 0.2 inch taller at its maximum level,has been dragged 0.8 inch lower as it arcs down over the rear wheels.Total length has increased 1.4 inches, and width is up 0.3 inch.The new Porsche Panamera is bigger all around, but its cleaner lines make it appear smaller sized.Significantly,6-foot-plus adults still perfectly fit in the rear seat.
The 2017 Porsche Panamera represents the debut of 3 brand new engines,two of which
are arriving to the U.S.-the $100,950 Panamera 4S powered by a 440-hp 2.9-liter V-6 and the $147,950 Panamera
Turbo powered by a 550-hp 4.0-liter V-8.
The totally modified air suspension offered on the new Panamera features three-chamber air springs with
60% more air volume than the earlier setup.The larger-capacity air springs can elevate the car 0.8 inch to clear
drive-ways or transform the aerodynamic angle of attack at speed,lowering the front axle 1.1 inches and the rear 0.8 inch.
7th and 8th gears are really tall to enhance fuel economy-the V-6 in the Panamera 4S is turning barely 1,350 rpm at 60 mph
in top gear-and both the 4S and Turbo therefore hit their 180- and 190-mp top speeds in 6th. Porsche says the
Panamera 4S will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 secs,the Turbo using just 3.6 seconds.Purchase the optional Sport
package ($6,930 on the 4S and $5,580 on the Turbo, the difference thanks to the adaptive
air suspension arriving regular on the Turbo), and you’ll shave a pair of tenths from those periods thanks to launch
control.The Sport package also comes with rear-wheel steering.
Amazingly sleek and responsive,its exhaust note a muted,the Panamera 4S engine might just be the
best V-6 in the world; it is hard to see why you wouldn’t simply spec a 4S up to
Turbo equipment levels-minus the V-8,of course-and “spend less” yourself a lot of money.But the V-8 makes its case with
more bite at the top end and noiseless running, even while cruising, as we did on
the autobahn, at 130 to 150 mph.
In Sport and Sport+ modes the new Porsche Panamera runs like you’d expect a four-door
Porsche to drive: buttoned-down ride,sharp throttle reaction,lightning-quick gearshifts, and a snap-crackle from
the exhaust. The steering is precise and well-weighted and uncorrupted by the
drive through the front wheels,even though the helm of the 275-pound-lighter 4S
seems marginally more communicative than the Turbo’s via the twisties.
The real revelation, nevertheless,is how luxurious,silent,and composed the big Porsche is when driven with the suspension,
transmission, and engine in their
standard settings.Porsche technical engineers might be sports car boys,but they’ve made a
authentic luxury limousine.
Info interchanges between driver and machine are helped by high resolution digital displays and touch-sensitive
switches, all part of the re-designed cabin.The instrument board is dominated
by a huge, centrally mounted analog tachometer-this is a Porsche,after all-flanked by couple of 7.0-inch
digital displays for some other instruments and vehicle info.
At the middle of the dash is a 12.3-inch touchscreen display,which handles all the usual
infotainment tasks and works as an interface for a host of web-based applications that
come with the system’s Wi-Fi hot spot
functionality.Proximity sensors recognize the approach of the user’s hand, and a menu
bar opens on the left side of the screen.You can swipe, touch, pinch, and zoom-it’s as intuitive as an iPhone, the graphics even more superbly rendered.
The primary Porsche Panamera was a excellent concept with flawed execution.
The 2017 Panamera fixes the faults and upgrades the idea with bleeding-edge technology.
It definitely is a sports car when you want and a luxury car when you need it.
2017 Porsche Panamera 4S & Turbo
BASE PRICE -$100,950-$147,950
VEHICLE LAYOUT -Front-engine, AWD,
4-pass, 4-door hatchback
ENGINES -2.9L/440-hp/405-lb/
ft twin-turbo DOHC
24-valve V-6; 4.0L/550-
hp/567-lb-ft twin-turbo
DOHC 32-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION -8-speed twin-clutch auto
CURB WEIGHT- 4,150-4,400 lb (mfr)
WHEELBASE- 116.1 in
L X W X H -198.8 x 76.3 x 56.0 in
0-60 MPH- 3.6-4.2 sec (mfr est)
