Porsche South Africa has announced the arrival of the new Panamera four-seater sports car. There are now eight derivatives of the Porsche Panamera available locally, including the Panamera S E-Hybrid.
The revised Porsche Panamera promises even sportier dynamics and greater efficiency, with more comfort and sharper styling. The for 2013 the Panamera has been given tighter lines, more pronounced contours and newly shaped body elements. A widened rear windscreen gives the car a visually lower stance, whilst a wider spoiler and optional LED lights make the new model stand out.
One of the stand-out aspects of the refreshed Panamera is that of fuel efficiency, with savings of up to 56% on petrol models, as well as more power. These savings are as a result of a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 that replaces the 4.8-litre V8 previously found in the Panamera S and Panamera 4S. The new biturbo V6 adds more power and torque to the Panamera S and 4S models (309 kW and 520 Nm), but reduced fuel consumption by 18 percent, to 8.7 and 8.9 l/100km respectively. The Panamera GTS will retain its 4.8-litre V8 with 324 kW and 520 Nm.
Further reducing the overall fuel consumption and emissions of the Panamera range is the Panamera S E-Hybrid. Porsche have claimed title to the world’s first plug-in hybrid in the luxury class, thanks to their new 245 kW 3.0-litre V6 in combination with a 70 kW electric motor. The E-Hybrid boasts 306 kW and 590 Nm of torque, which is enough to launch from 0 – 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 270 km/h. Drive it carefully, however, and Porsche claim it’ll achieve fuel consumption of 3.1 l/100km on average, which equates to 71 g/km of CO2 emissions.
A significant part of the new fuel efficiency is down to the redeveloped 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. The engine stop/start system will now stop the engine before you reach a complete standstill, to save a few more drops of precious fuel. A coasting feature disconnects the engine when lifting off the accelerator, allowing the engine to run at idling speed and save fuel. Finally, there’s a feature called Virtual Intermediate Gears, which creates ‘half speeds’ between the transmission’s real gear ratios. This feature works at low engine loads by engaging two gears and slipping both clutches to create an intermediate gear. In so doing, the engine speed can be optimally reduced to save fuel during low engine load situations, such as steady highway driving.
The chassis has not gone untouched either and Porsche have added larger chassis mounts to the front suspension for greater comfort and greater solidity. In addition, new steering box mounts provide a more direct response in combination with lighter 18-inch wheels and a specifically tuned Porsche Stability Management (PSM).
Toby Venter, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche South Africa, said: “As you would expect, we have had a great deal of interest around the launch of the new Panamera. The new design is a lot more precise, sharper and edgier. It’s a successful combination of traditional values and a forward-looking design.”
| Pricing (Incl. VAT) | |
| Porsche Panamera | R958 000 |
| Porsche Panamera Diesel | R950 000 |
| Porsche Panamera 4 | R1 004 000 |
| Porsche Panamera S | R1 224 000 |
| Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid | R1 279 000 |
| Porsche Panamera 4S | R1 271 000 |
| Porsche Panamera GTS | R1 419 000 |
| Porsche Panamera Turbo | R1 996 000 |
