Porsche: Dynamic treatment for the new Panamera 🎥
FEINSCHLIFF In its third model generation, the Porsche Panamera hits the road with numerous technical optimizations. The most striking innovation is the new suspension with Active Ride damper control.
In 2009, the Porsche four-door Panamera was lavishly presented on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center. After all, the market strategists from Zuffenhausen considered China, and the metropolis of Shanghai in particular, to be a particularly good place for the Panamera. Generation two followed seven years later, and after another seven years, the Leipzig region now offered the first opportunity to drive a pre-production model of generation three.
Freshly designed front section
Externally, the new edition of the sports saloon is quickly recognizable by the freshly designed front end, the strongly raised front fenders, the new wheel designs and the frameless rear window. Inside, the dashboard has been redesigned and features a 10.9-inch passenger display. The climate control panel and gear selector lever are also new.
The Panamera gets revised engines for the model change. Four plug-in hybrid models are now available. All e-hybrid models are based on an oil-cooled 140 kW electric motor that is fully integrated into the dual-clutch transmission housing. It draws energy from the 25.9 kWh battery, which is designed to provide purely electric operation for up to 90 kilometers.
Even more drive power
The main drive unit in the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid test vehicle is the revised 4-liter V8 biturbo. With an optimized valve train and increased injection pressure, together with the electric motor it delivers a maximum torque of 930 Nm and a peak output of 680 hp. Despite its high weight and expansive dimensions, the top-of-the-range Panamera can therefore deliver superior performance in any situation. It takes just 3.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill, and a maximum top speed of 315 km/h is possible.
Impressive driving experience
However, the new suspension was primarily responsible for the wow experience on the first test drive. Instead of the adaptive air suspension with 3-chamber system and 1-valve damper, the Active Ride control system with 1-chamber air suspension and 2-valve damper was developed in Weissach. This allows the compression and rebound stages to be controlled independently of each other.
The driving experience is captivating: on the one hand, the suspension irons out all road irregularities almost completely, and on the other hand, the usual normal movements of the vehicle body when starting off, braking and cornering can be neutralized. The Panamera lies on the road like the often-quoted plank, rounds bends without lateral inclination and avoids pitching movements when starting off and braking. Nevertheless, a high level of suspension comfort is offered in every driving situation.
The Panamera 4 with 2.9-liter V6 (353 hp, 500 Nm) is available from CHF 136,100 and the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid from CHF 234,900.
