2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo, Turbo Executive launched

Porsche today launched its second-gen Panamera sports sedan in India in Turbo and Turbo Executive guises at Rs 1.93 crore and Rs 2.06 crore (ex-showroom, Maharashtra), respectively. The Panamera Turbo Executive is essentially a stretched version of the sedan and features a 150mm longer wheelbase for increased rear passenger space.

The German carmaker is offering the car only in Turbo guise at launch, and that means with a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine that makes 550hp and 770Nm, which is 30hp and 70Nm more than the previous gen. This gives the Panamera Turbo a claimed 0-100kph time of 3.8sec (3.6sec with Sport Chrono Package), with the Executive Turbo just 0.1sec slower. Both the models get a top speed of 306kph.

Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch automatic gearbox. And like the 718 Boxster, the Panamera comes with four different driving modes – Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual.

The Panamera is equipped with a long list of chassis and drive control aids which Porsche claims has made handling better than before. This list includes adaptive air suspension with three-chamber technology, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control System with Torque Vectoring Plus, 4D chassis control system and rear axle steering. With all this kit, Porsche claims the car has lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7min and 38sec, which is a new record for a luxury sedan.

The Panamera Turbo is also the first Porsche to be equipped with the new adaptive cylinder control in its engine, which under part-load operation, turns the eight-cylinder into a four-cylinder engine in order to achieve better fuel economy. The car’s CO2 emissions have gone down too.

The second-gen Panamera with its all-new design establishes a closer stylistic link to the 911, especially with its characteristic Porsche rear profile. A highlight design cue is the new extendable spoiler that, at its operable speed, splits and extends as it rises.

On the inside, the new Panamera gets a lot of high-resolution displays with touch-sensitive surfaces that replace classic hard keys. A 12.3-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard and incorporates the latest-generation Porsche Communication Management system. As always, Porsche Panamera customers get to choose from a host of options to personalise their car, including panoramic tilt roof, massage seats, ambient lighting and a 3D high-end sound system from Burmester. This, however, will add to the final cost.  

Porsche will expand the Panamera range in India with the launch of the Panamera Turbo S E-hybrid, as well as the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo (a niche station wagon variant) which was recently revealed at the Geneva motor show. Additionally, lesser versions like the Panamera Diesel, Diesel S, E-Hybrid and 4S could be made available, and that too in all three body styles.

Also read

2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo Executive review