THE all-new 2017 Porsche Panamera has made its debut into the Malaysian market. Introduced by Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP), the second-generation Panamera defines the sports car of its segment.
Offered here in two guises, namely the Panamera and Panamera 4S, the 971-generation Panamera is priced at RM890,000 for the base one, and RM1,100,000 for the all-wheel-drive 4S. The new Panamera comes with a four-year warranty and free maintenance package covering parts and labour.
The heart to the new Panamera is a new redesigned 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine, producing 330hp at 5,400rpm and 450Nm of torque from 1,340rpm to 4,900 rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK).
Alongside the base Panamera is the punchier Panamera 4S, powered by an equally-redesigned 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with an output of 440hp at 5,650rpm and 550Nm of torque, available from 1,750rpm to 5,500rpm. The 4S employs the same dual-clutch transmission as the base Panamera.
Acceleration figures from zero to 100kph for the Panamera and Panamera 4S is 5.5 seconds and 4.3 seconds respectively.
Porsche claims the new engines in the Panamera to be more efficient and more powerful. They share special conceptual design characteristics, which is ‘hot sides inwards’. This translates to the turbochargers that are now integrated into the V of the cylinder banks.
Chassis wise, the new Panamera gets new three-chamber suspension design on all four corners, accompanied by Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM electronic damper control), the enhanced Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), active roll stabilization as well as a new electromechanical steering system.
Similar to the 911, Cayman and Boxster, the new Panamera receives rear axle steering, which is derived from the 918 Spyder hypercar. On the outside, there’s 911 design language in some areas of the new Panamera.
Featuring long, dynamic proportions, pronounced shoulders and athletic flanks, the new Panamera is said to be the sportiest car in the segment.
The car boasts a new front bumper and grille, redesigned to deliver a wide effect. There’s LED matrix headlights with four-point DRLs.
911 design language is even more prominent at the rear, as displayed by the retractable rear wing and the three-dimensional LED tail lights that are interconnected by a narrow LED strips.
The cabin of the new Panamera is interpreted as a typical Porsche. The sports steering wheel gets Sport Response Button which controls the driving modes as well as unleashing full performance for a short period of time. Dominating the centre console is Porsche Advanced Cockpit - a new, wide touch-sensitive panels that can be configured individually. Even the louvres of the central air vent are electrically-adjusted by touch-sensitive sliders.
Despite numerous performance upgrades, practicality is retained with 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats, increasing the luggage capacity from 495 to 1,304 litres.