Agent 00R Drives The Panamera: Is The Skeptic Now A Believer?

When a company goes out on a limb and risks its neck, it can destroy its built-up credibility or it can extend the firm's livelihood farther than anyone had expected.  Either way, when all is said and done you have to give the corporate brass credit; they have courage. 

Recently, BMW did this with their X5/6M sport utility vehicle or sport activity vehicle -- how ever they classify it.  In a knee-jerk reaction I harpooned it. However, in a recent driving opportunity, I came to thoroughly enjoy and embrace the M.

With this in mind I was sure to not let this happen again.

2010 Porsche Panamera Launch Gallery



I landed in Wisconsin with a clear head and an open-minded attitude.  It was when I saw the new Porsche Panamera that I realized its first impression will be this car's make or break moment.  With exception to the Cayenne, most Porsches are of the petit persuasion, but the Panamera is a bit larger.  It carries a presence and it is striking.  But, I cannot get over the rear hatch.

The front-end is unmistakably Porsche, the side profile including added doors will take some time to get used to and the rear is a mash-up of Porsche; young and old. 



Otherwise, the styling on the Panamera is relatively sleek and has curvaceous lines.  Although some may claim it is bloated and bulbous, the only area I see that needs some trimming down would be the rear hatch area. Granted, you would lose some important cargo room, which can fit several large bags.  Where the exterior drew some perplexed faces and made me think "it works in black," the interior was on another level.

From a design perspective, the Panamera's cabin is absolutely astonishing.  The attention to detail is unparalleled as is the quality of the craftsmanship.  With leather, aluminum and wood adorning every place you turn, it is a visually pleasant atmosphere to be in.  It reminds me of my telephone, the Nokia 8600 Luna.  The details are thought out, from the stitching on door panels to the font that is used on the buttons. 



Sport seats can be found in the front and, surprisingly, the rear of the cabin.  Of course they are supportive and provide more than enough comfort front and back.  This neatly brings me to my next point: the Panamera has plenty of room for four real-sized adults.  For instance, a six foot passenger was able to sit in front of me, while I was able to fit comfortably in the rear.  I am 6'8.  That is a hard to find reality in a car that does not have a long wheelbase like a BMW 7-series or Mercedes-Benz S-class.

Fit and finish appears to be rock solid, and rightfully so as Porsche has continuously placed high on the J.D. Power quality surveys.  Looks like the boys from Stuttgart will place high, yet again.



Interestingly enough, when the car industry seems to be pushing for minimalist interiors and hi-tech solutions to limit the amount of buttons in a car, Porsche has done just the opposite.  At first, the number of buttons can be daunting but as you spend more time interacting with the vehicle it makes sense, fast. 

Where there can be a steep learning curve for systems like Audi's MMI, in the Panamera it takes the creation muscle memory.  It helps that Porsche designed the layout logically so in one area is suspension settings, another area features HVAC controls. 

My favorite aspect of the interior is the gauge cluster that can be set up to show a close-up view of the navigation screen.  Because it is large and in color, this is something I have yet to see done before. 



But, you wouldn't believe it.  Some people do not buy Porsche's for their interiors or nifty navigation set up.  For some it is all about the drivetrain. 

With this in mind, Porsche hit this nail on the head; for the rear-wheel drive Panamera S and all-wheel drive 4S, there is a 4.8 liter V8 producing 400-horsepower and 369 lbs-ft of torque.  The AWD Turbo gets upgraded to 500-horsepower and 516 lbs-ft of torque.

Coupled with these fearsome V8s is Porsche's seven-speed PDK transmission.  No, it is not an automatic; however, it is a dual-clutch manual transmission with automatic shifting.  Initially I thought that PDK was simply a DSG transmission that had some software tweaks.  Hardly the case.  Kees Nierop, the driver who showed me what the Panamera is really capable of, shifted from fourth to seventh.  The only way I knew was by way of sound.  The shift is not felt, it is lightning quick and PDK can predict, correctly, how to shift going into a turn.



The best way to drive on the track is in "D," the fully automatic mode.  Why? Because rather than focusing on the correct point to shift going into a turn, you can focus on the apex, braking later and extending the limits of your driving without worrying about the shift.  Try keeping up with any driver in a PDK in a six-speed manual, you will most likely lose every time. 



Between the engines and the transmission, these combinations provide some solid 0-60 times for a 4,000 pound vehicle.  A Panamera S can sprint to 60 in 5.2 seconds, the 4S bests that and clocks in at 4.8 and the lightning quick Turbo does it in 4 seconds.



With this much grunt, you would expect the  consumption to be absolutely trivial, but Porsche summoned the car gods and eeked out some reasonable numbers.  For the lesser V8s the EPA estimated MPG to be 16/24, city/highway.  Considering the power jump, it is remarkable that the Turbo only obtains one less MPG at 15/23, city/highway.

After all is said and done, the latest addition to Porsche's stable should strike fear into the heart of the competition.  Assuming, of course, we know who the competition is.  This is where things get slightly difficult because although Porsche claims that it will be Benz's S-Class, BMW's 7-Series and Audi's A8, I am not so sure.







The reason for my doubt is that the Panamera brings more performance to the table than those guys.  Luxury or not, even in the most comfortable suspension setting, the Panamera is plenty stiff.  Although this four-door saloon is trying to be a luxury sedan, Porsche blood remains flowing through its veins.  

But I could see a repeat S-Class/7/A8 buyer switching over for a refreshing change.

Could I see a Cayenne owner coming out of lease, choose the Panamera because they love Porsches but do not want neighbors to think they are insensitive by buying another SUV?  Yes.



But I think the main reason an S-Class/A8 buyer switching over is because they want something that performs, is unique and hits the street with more attitude than the others.

There is no question that when you see a Panamera on the local boulevard it will catch your eye -- whether it is good or bad is up to the eye of the beholder.  

I love 90 percent of the Panamera, but the hatch, the hatch!


2010 Porsche Panamera Launch Gallery