More Than Just a Pretty Face The attractive
appearance of 2017 model Porsche Panamera is
just one of its numerous striking features
When Panamera was first launched back in 2009, long term Porsche fans were not necessarily taken aback by the sedan-esque features of the peculiar new model. After all, it was launched seven years after the infamous cult-classic, Cayenne – and that was enough time to get used to four-door cars. Based on that it’s fair to say the criticism that Panamera faced was not due to its sedan structure tarnishing the brand’s sports car image, or the number of doors it had – it was because of its odd exterior, namely its bulbous rear.
When redesigning the 2017 Panamera, Porsche’s main focus was on its appearance – rightfully so. The final design does not only feature a magnificent visage, but also a new body, engine and interior. There are two versions of the model, both of them sporting a turbo engine and a four wheel drive. The 2017 Panamera is longer, wider, taller and closer to the ground than its predecessor while possessing the same LED stop lamps. The rear of the car resembles the 911 and its roof merges with the rear on a straighter angle.
In terms of interior design, the new Panamera is more spacious and more tech-savvy. The console in the middle that was previously deluged with buttons is replaced with a sleek, black panel that serves as a touch screen. The multimedia screen is 12.3 inches wide and exhibits a user-friendly interface, with features like pinch-zoom and handwriting recognition, while the menu bar can be activated on the left of the screen using a proximity censor. This extraordinary system is integrated with Apple CarPlay, Google Earth and Google Street View, and it also allows the user to sync Porsche CarConnect with an iPhone or Apple Watch.
The new Panamera’s technology manages to carry its cabin to the level of its most developed rivals. Its dashboard bears the prototypical Porsche design with an analog and tachometer at the centre. Since Porsche drivers usually prefer performance to elaborate multimedia features, the company also renewed the engine of the new model to meet these expectations. Actually, engines* would be more accurate. The 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 of the Panamera 4S is rated at 440 horsepower – outdoing its predecessor with 40 more horsepower, while the second version of the new Panamera boasts a whopping 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, which nets at 550 horsepower. Through this data, one can see that the new Turbo model exerts 30 horsepower more than the old one. Impressive is an understatement.
Activated electromechanically, the stabilizer bars assist in equalizing the active flow while the new four wheel drive capacity enhances the agility of the car. If there were to be a more surprising feature of the 2017 Panamera besides the “sports car x sedan” hybrid characteristic, it would be the driving quality. The changes in suspension increase the ability to attune automatically to various road conditions, giving the driver a smoother and more controlled driving experience compared to its predecessor. As for its speed, it would be safe to say that the Panamera accelerates with such force that it can be likened to the sense of being pinned to your seats on a rollercoaster.
Foregoing its natural ventilation engine, Panamera also replaced its hydraulic steering wheel with an electrical one, allowing the driver to alter the exhaust prowess with a single button. The drastic improvement in performance, power and torque also helps the turbo charger.
Besides all these upgrades, the new InnoDrive system of this Porsche might be the feature to tickle your fancy – with its innovative ability to read three kilometers ahead of its route and manage braking and acceleration in accordance with the road conditions. Gernot Döllner, the head of the Panamera model series, states that “InnoDrive’s purpose is not replacing the driver but lessening the stress of long distance drives.”
The new Panamera’s modernized interior design, advanced technology and athletic build can easily overcome a potential of slow traffic on the highway. It wouldn’t hurt to acknowledge the new, sleek and sculpted exterior of the car as well, which – arguably – is its most attractive quality.
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