The Panamera brings Porsche performance to the executive express market. Not that the Maserati Quattroporte, BMW 750i, and Mercedes-AMG S Class are exactly slow, but the Quattroporte leans toward style, the Benz toward comfort, and the BMW takes the middle ground. The Panamera's styling is a little more controversial than those cars, but it offers more performance than any of them if you pick the right one. It also offers a plug0in hybrid option.
Porsche offers a massive range of Panameras, but they all have potent handling, and acceleration ranging from excellent to astounding. Pick the new for 2018 Sport Turismo wagon version and add cargo space to that package. Also new this year is a Turbo S E-Hybrid trim that combines the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for 680 hp and 626 lb-ft. It's the most powerful car in the lineup.
The Panamera is available with a host of powertrains that starts with the base car. It has a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with 330 hp and can be had with rear or all-wheel drive. Next up is the 4S, sporting a 2.9L twin-turbo V6 that makes 440 hp. The 4S is all-wheel drive and comes as the sedan, longer-wheelbase Executive, and Sport Turismo. The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid with an electric motor that boosts the 2.9L six to 462 hp. It comes in all three body styles, with all-wheel drive. Above that is the Turbo, which comes in all three body styles with a 4.0L V8 twin-turbo V8 that makes 550 hp. The most powerful is the new Turbo S E-Hybrid mentioned above. All have an eight-speed automatic.
The Panamera has Porsche's usual extensive options list, with more than a dozen wheel options and 15 interior colour choices depending on trim level. Seat options include 18-way adaptive sport seats. Various Premium Packages add features like soft-close doors, lane guidance, Bose sound systems, and adaptive LED headlights. An assistance pack adds lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise, and night vision. Adaptive air suspension is on the options list, along with sport exhaust systems. Massage features, sunshades, and even thicker glass to lower interior volume are all available. That's on top of the dozens of different interior accent and trim choices.
Fuel economy for the gas-powered Panamera ranges from a best of 11.0 L/100km city, 8.3 highway for the base car to 13.4/10.1 for the Turbo Sport Turismo. Fuel economy for the plug-in hybrids wasn't available.
