The upcoming Porsche Panamera has begun proving itself to be more than just a 911 with extra doors. According Sport Auto the range-topping Panamera Turbo with 373kW (507hp) and maximum torque of 700Nm has lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife in a time of 7 minutes 56 seconds. Walter Röhrl was driving, as per usual Porsche insistence.
That is quicker than the record time posted by Cadillac CTS-V. GM’s super sedan makes 415kW (564hp) and 747Nm from its 6.2-litre supercharged V8. So now, if confirmed, the Panamera Turbo is now the fastest sedan around the ‘Ring.
Nissan says its GT-R is currently the fastest “mass” production car around the famed track with a time of 7:26.7 minutes. It was controversially driven to the hilt by one Toshio Suzuki but months later Porsche told the world that it had acquired a GT-R, put it on the 20.8km track and achieved a best time of 7:54. The 911 Turbo was also driven to a time of 7:38 while the GT2 got 7:34.
Porsche will launch the Panamera in South Africa this coming September.
