Porsche Panamera
Porsche Panamera (970) | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Porsche AG |
Production | April 2009–present 25,000+ Produced(Early August 2010) |
Assembly | Leipzig, Germany |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full size luxury car |
Body style | 5-door liftback[1][2][3], Gran Turismo[4] |
Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.0 L V6 3.6 L V6 4.8 L V8 4.8 L V8 Turbo |
Transmission | 6-speed manual 7-speed ZF PDK dual clutch 8-speed Aisin Tiptronic S |
Dimensions | |
Length | 4,970 mm (195.7 in) |
Width | 1,931 mm (76.0 in) |
Height | 1,418 mm (55.8 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,870 kg (4,123 lb) |
The Porsche Panamera (Type number 970) is a four-door, four-seat luxury sedan with a coupe profile and a rear hatch.[3][5][6] [7] It is front-engined with rear-wheel drive, with a four-wheel drive version also available.
The Porsche Panamera production model was unveiled at the 13th Auto Shanghai International Automobile Show in Shanghai, China, on April 2009.[8]
In September 2010, Porsche announced that it had produced over 25,000 Panameras in just one year of the car's arrival in the market, ahead of its initially-projected 20,000-vehicle figure. Over 22,518 have already been delivered to customers around the world, with the most popular market being the United States and the most popular vehicle in the range being the Panamera 4S.
Concept and description
The Panamera's name is derived, like the Porsche Carrera line, from the Carrera Panamericana race. Earlier prototypes and concepts of the four-door saloons, such as the 1991 Porsche 989 prototype, the four-door 911 based prototype, and the C88 concept (a supermini sedan built in Germany and sold for China), never went into production.
The Panamera is generally considered to be the long-awaited fruit of Porsche's 989 concept from the late 1980s; some argue that it also presents itself as a successor to the two-door 928, but there may be plans to develop a new 928 as well.[9]
The Porsche Panamera and Panamera S are marketed as a direct competitor to full-size luxury sedan such as the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The high performance Panamera Turbo competes in the ultra-luxury segment alongside "exotics" such as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Aston Martin Rapide, and Maserati Quattroporte, as well as the top-performing versions of flagship luxury sedans.[10][11] Similar vehicles to the Panamera include the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
Like the Porsche Cayenne SUV (which has become the marque's best-selling vehicle), the Panamera upset many Porsche enthusiasts, since it was seen as an attempt to broaden Porsche's appeal beyond that of hardcore fans. The Panamera ran contrary to the company's signature offerings, particularly its light two-door rear-engine sports cars like the 911. The Panamera on the other hand is considered a full-size luxury car, weighing at nearly 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg), with four doors, and its V8 engine mounted in the front. The Panamera's unusual appearance with its long hood and bulbous rear hatch bears little resemblance to a stretched 911, although it does resemble the 911 from certain angles.[12] The iconic 911 has a sparse interior, as it was focused on raw performance, while the Panamera has a sumptuous interior loaded with modern technological amenity and expensive leather upholstery.[13] [10]
Production
Engines are first assembled in Stuttgart, and the car's body is built and painted at the Volkswagen Group facility in Hannover. The final assembly of the vehicle takes place in Leipzig, Germany, alongside the Cayenne.[14]
Production began in April 2009, one month after its debut in the Shanghai Motor Show in China. Porsche will keep production rate at around 20,000 cars per year.[15]
Porsche has applied for patents on a four-door convertible version of the Panamera that keep the same general dimensions.[16]
Publicity
On the 20 April 2007, a spy video of the Porsche Panamera became available on the Internet.[17]
In September 2008, Porsche released the first teaser image for the Panamera.[18] In early October 2008, an undisguised Panamera was captured on film in Busan, South Korea.[19]
In November 2008, the first official image of the Panamera was leaked.[15]
On 28 November 2008, Porsche sent a mailer containing two photos of the Panamera which were labeled as "the first official images of the Porsche Panamera" with an invitation to have online access to via Porsche USA's website.[20]
The 30 November 2008 edition of Top Gear featured a look at the Panamera in its news section, with the three presenters critically comparing its looks to those of the Austin Maxi. On 21 May 2009 Richard Hammond and James May from Top Gear were seen driving the Panamera along the A30 in Devon. They were racing against a letter sent via Royal Mail between the Isles of Scilly and the Orkney Islands. This episode was broadcast on the BBC on 12 July 2009. Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Porsche Panamera for an article with The Times newspaper and said, "Porsche plainly gave the job to a janitor". In his article, Clarkson rated the Panamera 2 out of 5 stars, claiming it "makes Quasimodo look like George Clooney".[21]
On 19 April 2009, Porsche finally unveiled the Porsche Panamera saloon to the public at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show.[22] One of the highlights of the Panamera's debut was fitting the car in the freight elevator of the Shanghai World Financial Center and sending it to the skyscraper's 94th floor.[23]
Specifications
The naturally aspirated versions of the Panamera have rear-wheel drive as standard, while the Turbo version includes standard four-wheel drive with Porsche Traction Management (PTM). A notable addition is the all-new ZF Friedrichshafen supplied and developed 7-speed 7DT-75 PDK dual clutch transmission.[24][25][26][27]
The V8-powered Panamera S and Panamera 4S, and Panamera Turbo were the first trims that debuted. Porsche debuted two further models on February 16, 2010: the Panamera and Panamera 4 which are both powered by 3.6-litre V6 engines producing 300 horsepower. The Panamera and Panamera S are rear-wheel drive, while the Panamera 4 has the same four-wheel drive system as the 4S and Turbo. Being derived from the V8 engine of the Panamera S and Panamera 4S, the V6 retains the V8's technologies like Direct Fuel Injection, infinitely-variable intake camshaft adjustment with variable valve lift (VarioCam Plus), an on-demand oil pump, water cooling with thermal management, a variable intake manifold, as well as integrated dry sump lubrication with two-stage extraction of oil and, and an Auto Start-Stop function (only with the PDK transmission). The 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission is standard on the Panamera 4, and as an option for the European-spec Panamera whose base transmission is a 6-speed manual. They will debut in the North American and European markets in June (following a release at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2010) with starting prices of $74,400 and $78,900 for the base and 4 models respectively, although the manual transmission is only available in Europe.[28]
The full lineup will include the Panamera base model, Panamera 4, Panamera S, Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo; a hybrid variation, the Panamera S Hybrid, was unveiled in February 2011 and will join the model range in July of the same year.[29] US models include an engine start/stop system, and the Turbo version uses active aerodynamics with a multi-stage, adjustable rear spoiler.[30] All models of the Panamera avoid the U.S. gas guzzler tax.[31]
Engines
car model | displacement & configuration |
max. motive power @ rpm | max. torque @ rpm |
---|---|---|---|
Panamera, Panamera 4 |
3.6 litre V6 | 300 PS (221 kW; 296 bhp) @ 6,200 | 400 N⋅m (295 lbf⋅ft) @ 3,750-4,250 |
Panamera S, Panamera 4S |
4.8 litre V8 | 400 PS (294 kW; 395 bhp) @ 6,500 | 500 N⋅m (369 lbf⋅ft) @ 3,500-5,000 |
Panamera S Hybrid | 3.0 litre V6 | 380 PS (279 kW; 375 bhp) @ 5,500 | 580 N⋅m (428 lbf⋅ft) @ 3,000-5,250 |
Panamera Turbo | 4.8 litre V8 twin turbo | 500 PS (368 kW; 493 bhp) | 700 N⋅m (516 lbf⋅ft) @ 2,250-4,500 |
Performance for a Panamera Turbo
- Drag Coefficient: 0.30[32]
- 0- 60 mph (97 km/h): 3.3 seconds[32]
- 0- 100 mph (160 km/h) : 8.2 seconds [32]
- 1/4 mile: 11.7 seconds @ 119 mph (192 km/h) [32]
- Top Speed: 188 mph (303 km/h) [32]
- Braking 70 mph (110 km/h) to 0 mph (0 km/h): 159 feet (48 m) [32]
Top speeds in gear:
Gear | mph | km/h | rpm |
---|---|---|---|
7th | 193 | 311 | 4450 |
6th | 193 | 311 | 6100 |
5th | 169 | 272 | 6600 |
4th | 123 | 198 | 6600 |
3rd | 84 | 135 | 6600 |
2nd | 51 | 82 | 6600 |
1st | 28 | 45 | 6600 |
Handling
The Panamera comes with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM), which is Porsche's name for its fully-controlled, four-wheel drive system. PTM is standard on both the Panamera 4S and the Panamera Turbo. Optional Sports Chrono Packages include a Sport Plus button, which has tighter damping and air springs, and lowers the car body by 25 mm (1.0 in).[33]
Hybrid variation
In 2008, Porsche AG announced the development of a parallel hybrid system for the Panamera.[34] According to Car and Driver, it may use a 3.6 litre V6 engine with a 34 kilowatts (46 hp) electric motor found in the Cayenne hybrid.[35]
In February 2011, Porsche unveiled the Panamera S Hybrid. Using the same drivetrain seen in the Cayenne S Hybrid - an Audi-sourced supercharged 3.0L V6 engine producing 333 horsepower along with an electric motor rated at 47 horsepower, as well as the Cayenne's eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission - the 380hp Panamera S Hybrid can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. It would produce only 159 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, rendering it the cleanest car in the entire Porsche model range. The car is also the range's most economical with respect to fuel consumption.
Reception
Despite the differences in dimensions and design, a reviewer noted that the Panamera's driving dynamics were close to that of the 911, and it "seems to occupy the no-man's-land between really good sports sedans and proper sports cars", and so far the Panamera has won every comparison test against other four-door performance cars on the market such as the more expensive Maserati Quattroporte and Aston Martin Rapide.[36][37] Function was also praised, with the 15.7 cubic feet hatchback trunk, and the four-corner adaptive air suspension that retained superior handling while also providing a comfortable ride for public roads. Edmunds stated that the Panamera was an innovative engineering feat that "makes a unique statement about the way that luxury transportation and serious high-performance potential can be mixed together in one car". [13] [10]
Unlike most of the V8-engined contemporaries, all models of the Panamera avoid the US gas guzzler tax. The Panamera S weights 400 pounds (180 kg) less than the 2011 BMW 550i which is 4,376 pounds (1,985 kg)[38]
The V6-powered Panamera was also praised, as its downsized engine still retained respectable acceleration[39], and as it had even better handling than its V8 siblings, due to the engine being lighter by 100 lb (45 kg) which gave the car better weight distribution.[40]
However, the CAR magazine of the U.K. described the S model not as sporty as they expected, which they blamed the car "oriented to comfort as it’s possible"[41] and called the Turbo model "a missed opportunity on behalf of Porsche" to be "the world’s first lightweight four seater" as the top model weighs as much as an Audi S8.[42]
The vehicle's styling on the other hand has not been well received. Top Gear in particular has been very critical of it ever since the first photos were shown, meanwhile evo has called the car "big and ugly."[43]
2010 recall
On 27 April 2010, Porsche announced the recall of all 2010 Panameras due to potentially faulty seatbelt mounts. It is claimed that the seatbelt mounts can possibly come undone if the front seats are set in the extreme forward position and the vehicle has an accident. So far, no actual incidents of this problem have been reported; rather, Porsche is issuing the recall as a precautionary measure.
References
- ^ "Last Auto News – Porsche Panamera Sedan Launched – Shows A "Liftback" Bodystyle | Auto News - Daily Last Auto News". Lastautonews.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "2010 Porsche Panamera Photo Trunk Open - Consumer Guide Automotive". Consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com. 2007-07-30. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ a b "First Test: 2010 Porsche Panamera S". Motor Trend. 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ [1]
- ^ "Porsche | Panamera | 4 door | Saloon | 2009 | New | GT | Coupe | Car". Porschepanamera.eu. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ Porsche ready new Panamera saloon (2009-03-20). "Porsche ready new Panamera saloon - Cars and Motorbikes - Mirror.co.uk". Blogs.mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "First Drives » First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera". CanadianDriver. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "2010 Porsche Panamera: 20 New Photos". Left Lane. 2008-11-25. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
- ^ "2012 Porsche 928 Car news". Car and Driver. 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ a b c "2010 Porsche Panamera Reviews, Prices + Rankings | U.S. News Cars". Usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ [2]
- ^ "2010 Porsche Panamera Reviews by Cars.com Experts and Consumers". Cars.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ a b "2010 Porsche Panamera - Test drive and new car review - 2010 Porsche Panamera". Cars.about.com. 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Future: Porsche Panamera". Motor Trend. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ^ a b Kaufmann, Alex (2008-11-24). "Porsche Panamera official details". Motorauthority.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Porsche plans four-door Panamera convertible". AutoWeek. 60 (6). Detroit, MI: Crain Communications Inc.: 8. March 22, 2010.
{{cite journal}}
:|first=
missing|last=
(help); Text "issn 0192-9674" ignored (help); Text "last Kable" ignored (help) - ^ Fallah, Alborz (2007-04-20). "Porsche Panamera Spy Video". Caradvice.com.au. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ Panamera at porsche.com
- ^ "Porsche Panamera makes Korea move". Ausmotive.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Welcome to the Family | Porsche Panamera". Porscheusa.com. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
- ^ Clarkson, Jeremy (18 October 2009). "Porsche Panamera 48 V8 Turbo". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Porsche Panamera Debuts In Shanghai – With Videos". Automoblog.net.
- ^ "How to Fit a Porsche Panamera into an Elevator". Left Lane News. 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
- ^ "Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) - Panamera Models". Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Porsche.com. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ "FEATURE: ZF's new 7DT 'Mood-Sensing' Dual-Clutch Transmissions". CSM Worldwide. Just-Auto.com. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "ZF 7-speed dual clutch transmission". ZF Friedrichshafen AG. ZF.com. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
- ^ "Porsche Joins the DCT Set". The Lubrizol Corporation. DCTfacts.com. Retrieved 28 October 2009. [dead link ]
- ^ "First Drives » First Drive: 2011 Porsche Panamera V6". CanadianDriver. 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "New Panamera: World Debut in China". Porsche.com. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ Paukert, Chris (2009-03-18). "U.S. Porsche Panamera to get start/stop, active aero among other features". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ [3]
- ^ a b c d e f "Porsche Panamera Turbo" (PDF). Car and Driver. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ^ Abuelsamid, Sam (2009-03-20). "Porsche Panamera: In-depth tech briefing and first ride". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ Lavrinc, Damon (2008-01-07). "Confirmed! Porsche Panamera to come with hybrid flavor". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Porsche Panamera Hybrid - Car News". Car and Driver. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ "First Drive: 2011 Porsche Panamera (V6) [Review]". Leftlanenews.com. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ Ben Barry (2009-06-24). "Porsche Panamera S (2009) CAR review". CAR magazine. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ Georg Kacher (2009-07-28). "Porsche Panamera Turbo (2009) CAR review". Car magazine. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ John Barker (2009-08-01). "Porsche Panamera S Car Review". evo. Retrieved 2011-1-10.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help)
External links
- Porsche Panamera official microsite
- 2010 Porsche Panamera article at LeftLaneNews.com
- Official Porsche Panamera Image Leaked Porsche Panamera article at WorldCarFans.com
- The most expensive Panamera almost tops 200,000 Euros - Porsche Panamera article at AutoEvolution.com