Porsche's Panamera Gets Better For 2014. Did It Just CHECKMATE ALL Of The Top-Tier Luxury Sedans?

Those who like traditional Sedan Shapes will not stop buying S-Classes and 7- Series vehicles because porsche has made some changes to the Panamera.

Those who prefer a more Unique shape/character will opt for the Panamera / Rapide / Quattroporte vehicles.

And enough with the infantile Subject Headings.

Damn..this ride is growing on me. When I first saw it, it looked like an abomination. Now I find myself actually considering it.

Lol, by extending the existing Panamera’s wheelbase, Porsche is using essentially the same car to compete with the large luxury sedan class. The two Panameras with the new long-wheelbase are the ‘4S Executive’ and the ‘Turbo Executive’. The other seven Panamera models have the standard wheelbase, same as before.

Porsche’s interior still has some ways to go to compete with the interior luxury of the likes of the Audi S8 and A8L W12. Now that Porsche is part of the Volkswagen Group, the interior quality of Porsche models will improve -- and VW will surely improve the fugly Panamera design as well.
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Porsche has stopped selling the Panamera Turbo S -- this means the Audi S8 is as fast as the fastest Panamera available (standard wheelbase Panamera Turbo), based on Motor Trend’s tests of both vehicles (the Audi S8 is slightly faster from 0 to 60 as well as quarter mile, while the Panamera Turbo is slightly faster on the MT figure eight course). The Audi S8 should be faster than the longer wheelbase Panamera Turbo Executive.

It remains to be seen what the extra 5.9 inches has done to the Panamera Turbo Executive’s handling and performance dynamics compared with the standard wheelbase Panamera Turbo.

Comparison of the longer wheelbase Panameras with a few Audis.
Length (wheelbase) / width / height / 0 to 60 mph / base price

- Porsche Panamera 4S Executive: 5,165 mm (3,070 mm) / 1,931 mm / 1,425 mm / 4.8 sec (mfr) / $125,600.00

- Porsche Panamera Turbo Executive: 5,165 mm (3,070 mm) / 1,931 mm / 1,425 mm / 4.0 sec (mfr) / $161,100

- Audi S8: 5,146 mm (2,944 mm) / 1,948 mm / 1,460 mm / 3.5 sec (mt) / $110,000

- Audi A8L W12: 5,267 mm (3,122 mm) / 2,111 mm / 1,471 mm / 4.1 sec (c&d) / $135,675 [A8L denotes the A8's extended wheelbase, which is longer and roomier than the Panamera's extended version]
Audi A8 L W12 Exclusive: Luxury Can Be Lonely: http://tinyurl.com/c6r92al

Audi S7’s dimensions and performance (4,969 mm (2,914 mm) / 2,139 mm / 1,420 mm / 3.9 sec / $78,800 ) are still comparable to the other 7 standard wheelbase Panamera models), with the possible exception of the Panamera Turbo.

The standard wheelbase A8 has 5.4 in more rear legroom than the standard wheelbase Panamera! The standard wheelbase Porsche Panamera Turbo rear legroom is just 33.3 in (5.4 in shorter than the Audi S8's 38.7 in), so no wonder the extended wheelbase Panamera 'Executive' needs the extra 5.9 in wheelbase just be comparable to a standard wheelbase A8! The standard wheelbase Panamera's front headroom is 38.0 in, rear headroom 38.2, front leg room is 41.9 in, rear legroom 33.3 in, front shoulder room 51.9 in, rear shoulder room 51.7 -- it's interior volume is probably similar to an A7.

The Audi S8 is based on the A8 standard wheelbase, not even the A8L extended wheelbase. The Audi S8's interior dimensions are front headroom 37.2 in, rear headroom 38.1, front leg room 41.4 in, rear leg room 38.7 in, front shoulder room 59.1 in, rear shoulder room 57.8, interior volume 115.1 cu ft. The extended wheelbase Panamera's interior volume is probably closer to a Hyundai Genesis than an Audi A8.

The Audi S8's rear cabin:
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The extended wheelbase A8L has almost 10 inches more rear legroom than the seven standard wheelbase Panameras and over 4 inches more than legroom than the two longer wheelbase Panameras (Executive)! The Audi A8L's rear leg room is 42.9 in (extra 4.2 in over standard wheelbase A8) and rear headroom 39.1 in (1 in higher than A8), for interior volume 121.9 cu ft.

Even the Audi A7 and S7 (37.0 in rear legroom) have more legroom than the seven standard wheelbase Panamera sub-models!

- Furthermore, the $78,100 base Porsche Panamera and the $82,800 Panamera 4 have a 310 HP engine that needs 6 seconds to go 0 to 60 mph -- well inferior tothe $60,100 Audi A7 (4.7 sec) and $78,800 Audi S7 (0 to 60 at 3.9 sec) which are far more more value for money (and gives cost savings that can be used for options). Furthermore the cost of Porsche's options are higher than the Audi's options, so the total cost of the Panameras will probably end up being much higher than its base price.

- the $78,800 Audi S7 (420HP, 0-60 mph: 3.9 sec) remains a compelling alternative to all standard wheelbase Panameras with their new twin-turbo V6 or old V8: the $93,200 Panamera S (V6 420 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 0-60 mph: 4.9 sec), $98,300 Panamera 4S (V6 420 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 0-60 mph: 4.6 sec) and $113,400 Panamera GTS (V8 440 hp @ 6,700 rpm, 0-60 mph: 4.2 sec). Even the $141,300 Panamera Turbo (520 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 0-60 mph: 3.9 sec) is within reach -- Motor Trend tested the Panamera Turbo on its Figure 8 course at 24.4 sec @ 0.81 g (avg) compared to the Audi S7's 24.8 secs @ 0.81 g (avg); the Panamera Turbo on the quarter mile at 11.9 sec @ 114.7 mph compared to the S7's 12.3 sec @ 112.1 mph; but the Panamera Turbo's 109 ft braking was worse than the Audi S7's 103 ft.

Not bad, but that butt still makes me wince.