DRIVEN: PORSCHE PANAMERA SHIFTS PARADIGM

When the BMW M3 first came out, Porsche had reason to feel frightened. Here was a compact premium coupe that would give its iconic 911 a run for its money in handling, speed and space, at a much lower price. Today the shoe is in the other foot. BMW’s 7 Series really has something to fear in the new Panamera.

Anyone who says the Panamera is ugly hasn’t seen it in the metal. Sure there are suspect areas, like the rear and the parts of the roof. The front end is of course classic Porsche, which in English means it looks like a 911. The front grille on the lower bumper, sharp teardrop eyes, simple rounded lines on the bonnet and sides. I noticed how “Porsche” the Gran Turismo is when glancing rearwards on the side mirror to be greeted by its bulging shoulder line. How “Porsche” is that? Topping it all off is there rear end featuring simple but elegant lines. By modern design standards it may very well be called boring, or at least it would invoke some sort of feeling.

Porsche doesn’t care, actually. Back in 2002 when the Cayenne broke cover for the first time some traditional Porschephiles were left aghast. Or so the mainstream motoring media would have us believe. Actually the company’s closest clients were all invited, at various stages (myself included, although on a more professional level) to go view the car. We were all quite impressed. Years later that SUV has become its maker’s biggest selling model, outselling the 911 3:1 in most cases.

The four-door coupe market is currently at its infancy but is growing quite fast. Porsche’s entry into it is very natural; some countries are looking down on SUVs believing they cause a hell of a lot of air pollution. That we could debate all night. Fact is the 4x4 genre is losing some of its late 1990s/ early 2000s shine and something had to be done. Enter the Panamera.

Four wheels, four doors, four adults, four suitcases. Four fours. Four by four in some models like the Panamera S and the Panamera Turbo. Foreplay? Yes. This is the part when you pull the driver’s door and are greeted by the massive interior. Again, don’t let these pictures fool you; only top-level materials have been used. Millions of combinations are available to suit every customer’s tastes. From the five different wood options to two-tone colour combinations and the finest leathers one could conceivably be inside a Bentley and not a Porsche. There are even various air conditioning type choices to tick from. Applying all these individualisation options ensured that buyers are not only sitting inside a potent performance machine but they do so in velvet conditions as well. I was particularly impressed with the awesome 1000W, 16-speaker Burmester sound system fitted to the first car I piloted, the Panamera Turbo. Burmester. Where else have I seen that name before? Ah, the Bugatti Veyron. And nowhere else since. How exclusive is that?

My initial worries regarding the handling were soon turned into dust as soon as I pushed the Start button and let my ear drums enjoy the first rumble from under the bonnet. South Africa is getting all three models; the Panamara S, Panamera 4S and the Turbo. Turbo I said. Master, it said. And so our mutual understanding began.

Through a series of meandering sweeps in the Franschoek, Cape Town area, I found myself having to glance back a few times. So mesmerising is the way all the electronics, the front wheels and the steering communicate that I would often wonder if I was not driving a 911, not a two-tonne, 5 metre cruiser. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, its 0 – 100km/h time sits around the 4 second mark. That’s as quick as any supercar out there, as quick as a Nissan GTR in fact. The 911 Turbo achieves the same time, at half the size. What I’m trying to say is that unless you are driving a Bugatti Veyron or a Koenigsegg CCX R, it’s best to step aside when you see a Panamera Turbo on the mirror. Not just on a straight line mind you; same applies to bends and curves, thanks in part to Porsche Stability Management (PSM) which gives the car exceptional agility when cornering. Sorry, it wasn’t the driver but the car.

A turbocharged 4.8-litre V8 is nestled under the bonnet, making 368kW at 6000rpm and 700Nm of torque between 2250rpm and 4500rpm. Under certain circumstances it rises to a 770Nm overboost. We saw a lot of these circumstances during our 400km drive. It’s sent to all four wheels via Porsche’s supersmooth 7-speed PDK (double clutch) gearbox. Drivers can change it manually through shift buttons on the steering wheel but these aren’t as useful as paddles. The PDK features three modes; Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. The former is for retirement candidates who thought Porsche was going all limp with the Panamera. The second fits individuals with a bit of chilli still in their eyes. For those who can lap Kayalami faster than they can take a pee, the Sport Plus mode is for you. That’s when the quickest gearshifts happen, the stiffest the suspension system is and the most fun you’ll have with your underpants on.

Pretty much can be said for the “lesser” models as well, though they won’t be as hair-raising when it comes to pure thrust. Apparently most buyers opt for the mid-range 4S which is equipped with AWD. It has the same 4.8-litre V8 but with no blower. For its part it gives out 294kW and 500Nm. While it pales in comparison with the Turbo, especially at altitudes like Gauteng’s, it holds its head quite high. As a matter of fact consider that the previous-generation BMW M5 had figures like that. And that classic was considered the class-leader in its heyday.

At entry-level we have the Panamera S with a nice PDK transmission and the same figures as the 4S. The difference is that the S only pulls with its hind legs.

Believe it or not we never stopped for fuel at any point and considering that speeds of up to 250km/h were achieved (not by me Mr Officer!), that sounds just about miraculous. Porsche claims 12.2, 11.1 and 12.5 litres per 100km respectively for the Turbo, 4S and S. Yes folks, the big T does better in the fuel stakes than the less powerful, cheaper 4x4.

I even had the pleasure of sampling the rear seat and I can assure you that passengers will not be left with cracked knees, even on extended journeys. All their luggage pieces can also come along as you can see in one of the pictures. Guys who find pleasure in chasing a little white ball with metal sticks around a park will find comfort in the fact that two of their prized leather bags can also be accommodated in the boot.

What Porsche has created with the Panamera is not a mere four-door coupe that sits four adults. What it is is a total paradigm shift in the way people will think about cars in general. I can’t wait until a “smaller” Panamera hits the upper-class “mass” market. That way competitors will be forced to seriously relook at how they manufacture automobiles.

Porsche Panamera Pricing
Panamera S (R1 040 000)
Panamera 4S (R1 065 000)
Panamera Turbo (R1 665 000)