Porsche, for the longest time, has made the cars that are stunning performers, and now they marks the official unveiling of the 2017 Porsche Panamera, and the performance features are simply mind boggling.
Even though the new Panamera is sized almost exactly like the outgoing car model, the proportions have been reworked and vastly improved. There’s a bit more wheelbase, a roofline that drops far more aggressively, and a more steeply raked windshield. Add to that a new side-window shape more reminiscent of the 911’s, slimmer horizontal taillights, and new LED headlights, and the result is an muscular, elegant, and slightly futuristic hatchback sedan that looks just right. The prototype photos don’t do it justice, but this is a car you could buy for just its looks, not in spite of them.
A completely new range of engines powers the second-generation Panamera, starting with a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 that puts out 440 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. In the Panamera 4S, that is enough to launch the saloon to 60 in 4.4 seconds (4.2 with the optional Sport Chrono Package) and to the hit a top speed of 180 miles per hour. The Panamera Turbo boasts a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 with 550 hp and 567 lb-ft. The zero–60 run takes just 3.6 seconds (3.4 with Sport Chrono) and the top speed is 190 mph. Both the 4S and the Turbo come out with standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Expect to see the Panamera hit dealers in the beginning of 2017. Base price for the 4S is $101,040. The Turbo begins at $147,950 and it will surely rise quickly from there.