Flat out in the Panamera
Dan Trent writes:
The Porsche Panamera Turbo will, its makers claim, do 0-62mph in four seconds dead with the Sports Chrono pack and run out to 188mph. Not bad for a luxurious four-seater coupe weighing not far off two tonnes. Will it though? Only one way to find out…
God bless the Autobahn eh? And the novelty of being able, legally, to drive at speeds that would see you locked up back home never wears off. For the record we did see an indicated 300km/h – just 2mph short of the 188mph official maximum – but, dur, the camera wasn’t running. So you’ll just have to trust me on that one.
There’s so much technology on this car too, like air suspension that lowers the car by a massive 25mm in its sportiest setting. And this awesome folding rear wing that pops out above 56mph and then adjusts in two further stages at 100mph and 127mph. This being a Turbo you get an even fancier, expandable version:
My personal preference? Well the Turbo is awesome. But – and the Porsche people are going to hate me for this – my favourite was this Panamera S on 20-inch wheels with PCCB ceramic brakes and a manual gearbox in place of the PDK double-clutch transmission the PR people wanted us to concentrate on.
I got the impression the Porsche PR team realise that if they let hacks drive a manual car they’ll usually witter on about how great it is and how much more involving it is to drive when in fact most customers couldn’t give a stuff and will tick the box that says Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. Fair play to them – Porsche’s double-clutch gearbox is one of the best in the business, not to mention the one with the best name.
Reminds me of a drive in a manual Cayenne GTS on the launch. I’m no fan of the Cayenne but I had such a hoot driving it I almost renounced every bad word I’d ever written about the thing. In my giddy overexcitement I asked the PR guy how many manuals Porsche has sold. ‘About 33,’ he said. What, per cent? ‘No, 33…’
No doubt Porsche is expecting a similar take up on the Panamera.
Dan
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Posted: June 30th, 2009 under On Launch.
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