Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo India launch in January

Porsche is gearing up to launch the Panamera Sport Turismo in India in January 2018. Like the regular Panamera, the Sport Turismo will also be offered first in Turbo guise in India. In fact, bookings for the car were opened this month. Porsche has priced the Turbo Sport Turismo at Rs 2.08 crore (ex-showroom, India). For reference, the Panamera Turbo costs Rs 2.03 crore.

Also part of the line-up is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, the fastest Panamera Sport Turismo model, yet. It has been put on sale for Rs 2.38 crore. However, Porsche plans to offer this model on a made-to-order basis for its Indian customers.

Being a shooting brake version of the Panamera, the Sport Turismo features a slightly raised roofline, up to 50 litres of additional boot space, a larger tailgate and a low loading sill that makes luggage loading easier.  The estate offers a 4+1 seating configuration; the standard car is a strict four-seater. A feature that stands out is the adaptive roof spoiler, which is offered as standard. Depending on the driving situation and selected vehicle settings, the spoiler generates an additional 50kg of rear downforce.

In Turbo guise, the vehicle is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 putting out 550hp at 5,750-6,000 rpm and 770Nm at 1,960–4,500 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed PDK gearbox. Air suspension is offered as standard, while rear-wheel steering is an optional extra. The Panamera Turbo ST can sprint to 100kph from standstill in 3.6s and onto a top whack of 304kph.

The 4 E-Hybrid, on the other hand, combines the same 550hp V8 with a 136hp electric motor, taking the total output to a staggering 680hp with 850Nm of pulling power. The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid ST shaves off 0.2s from the Turbo in its 0-100kph sprint, achieving it in 3.4s and a top speed of 310kph. The model offers an electric-only range of up to 49km.

Porsche expanded the Panamera range with the addition of the Sport Tourismo body style at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. Apart from the Turbo and 4 E-Hybrid, the model is available with an option of three additional drivetrains – the Panamera 4, Panamera 4S and Panamera 4S Diesel – for the international markets.

With an estate body style, Porsche's Panamera Sport Turismo range will certainly be a niche within a niche in its model line-up for India when it goes on sale. It will be joined by the brand's most important model for the country, the third-generation Cayenne, set for market introduction in around June 2018.