http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/...32740,00.html?
Published June 27, 2009
Pretty good Porsche
Porsche's new Panamera at first glance looks like a Cayenne SUV that has been flattened by a giant hand. While its appearance will take some getting used to, its drive and comfort are nothing short of outstanding. By Samuel Ee
RARELY can a Porsche be called beautiful and the only reason why the styling of the 911 is much-loved is probably because we've had more than 40 years to get used to it.
IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN
Visually, Porsche's first four-door grand tourer stands out by being shorter but wider and lower than the competition
And so it appears to be the same with the new Panamera, Porsche's first four-door grand tourer which is less sedan and more five-door hatchback. At first glance, this so-called four-door sports coupe looks like a Cayenne SUV that has been flattened by a giant hand.
However unflattering this may sound, its looks should grow on you. You may not be smitten eventually but you would probably understand that as the first limousine by the iconic German sports car maker, there was no other way it could have been designed.
The Panamera is both historic and exciting. It is what Porsche calls a new class of car, one that is not a traditional three-box saloon but the Panamera class.
Visually, it stands out by being shorter but wider and lower than the competition. Dynamically, it also feels more confident despite being one of the most comfortable Porsches ever developed. One reason for this is the low centre of gravity - four occupants sit close to the ground in individual sports seats. The driving position is similar to that in a 911 except that the Panamera is much bigger at 1,931 mm wide and just shy of 5.0 metres long.
Another reason is the way the air suspension has been calibrated. In the flagship Panamera Turbo, there are three modes - Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. These are the same three options found in the 911 but in the Panamera, they have been significantly toned down, so that while Sport Plus in a Carrera 4S would have induced some stomach churning going fast on a rough patch of road, this option merely makes the Panamera Turbo feel more taut. Sport Plus in the 911 is best left for track day, while Sport Plus in the big Porsche dials in just the right amount of pliancy.
It is the same for the other settings. Comfort in the Panamera, for example, is more comfortable than Comfort in the 911 and for the first time, you will experience noticeable body roll in a Porsche. Everything has been turned down a few notches for this Gran Turismo.
The brilliant seven-speed Porsche double-clutch gearbox is also found in the Panamera but modified and remapped for more comfortable gear shifts. The result is that the car can cruise smoothly and quietly, or speed up urgently when the gas pedal is floored.
When the latter is taking place, the Panamera Turbo exhibits amazing oomph. The 4.8-litre V8 has a pair of small turbos to provide linear and virtually lag-free acceleration. The big car hits 200 kmh in a snap. At 250 kmh, it feels like it is just getting warmed up and won't break any sweat reaching the stated top speed of 303 kmh. Of course, you have to first make sure you don't run out of autobahn.
While endowing the Panamera with such excessive performance, Porsche has taken great pains to minimise fuel consumption with a direct injection engine and an auto stop-start function. When the car comes to a standstill, say at a junction, the engine is automatically switched off. As soon as the driver takes his foot off the brake pedal, the engine starts automatically. This improves fuel economy, especially in city traffic.
But it is in the city where you will discover the Panamera's biggest disadvantage - its size. It may be a nimble car but it is still rather large. Consequently though, the cabin is extremely spacious. There are traditional Porsche touches, like the 'tube' meters with the tachometer in the centre, and non-traditional cues, such as the Vertu-like centre console with its wild proliferation of buttons.
As a Gran Turismo, it is not surprising that the Panamera offers remarkable comfort for long cross-country jaunts at high speed.
But what is surprising is that the ride comfort comes with typical Porsche handling. This carefully-nuanced combination of comfort and control is outstanding. So while the Panamera may not be pretty, it certainly is pretty good.
SPECS
Porsche Panamera Turbo
Engine 4,806cc V8 turbocharged
Transmission 7-speed PDK double-clutch
Max power 500 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque 700 Nm @ 2,250-4,500 rpm (770 Nm with Overboost)
0-100 kmh 4.2 secs
0-200 kmh 13.9 secs
Top speed 303 kmh
Distributor Stuttgart Auto
Tel 6363-0911