Porsche Panamera

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The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition

At the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 17 Porsche will unveil their latest addition to the successful Panamera line up, the Platinum Edition, a top of the line spec available on either the Panamera (not in Europe), the Panamera 4, and even the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, while only in Europe you can order this Platinum Edition also on the Sport Turismo models while the Chinese market includes the Porsche Panamera Executive models, which come with an extended wheelbase, first deliveries are foreseen for late January 2022, pricing in Germany start at €111,945 VAT included.

This special trim level combines the discretion of the Satin Gloss Platinum design features with a vast array of standard equipment that’s optionally available on the regular Porsche Panamera, and as usual with a ‘package deal’, the sum of all options would be a lot more expensive than the premium for this Platinum Edition option.

For starters, the Platinum Edition comes with the must-have option of adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), but also includes automatic dimming exterior mirrors, LED matrix headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus), the large panoramic roof, and just in case, the Park Assist with reversing camera, If you opt for the E-Hybrid version an on-board AC charger with 7.2 kW charging power comes as standard too.

The Platinum-painted 21-inch Exclusive Design Sport wheels look amazing, and for that really intimidating look, Porsche fits black sports tailpipes and dark-tinted privacy glass while the side windows are trimmed high-gloss black, as a final statement the Exclusive Design taillights emphasize the Porsche Panamera’s dynamic elegance.

The Panamera Platinum Edition wouldn’t be complete without platinum painted details on the exterior, like the air vents behind the front wheels, same as the famous Porsche logo and Panamera model designation on the rear hatch, in case of the E-Hybrid, the logo on the side gets a platinum finish too, and if you’re not a fan of massive 21-inch wheels, the options list includes 20-inch Panamera Style wheels in Platinum too.

Opening the door will bring you into the lap of luxury, with the GT sports steering wheel complete with Power Steering Plus, Lane Change Assist, but the Platinum Edition also offers soft-close doors with Comfort Entry, 14-way electrically adjustable comfort front seats with memory package, heated rear seats, the magnificent sounding BOSE® Surround Sound system. Furthermore, the brushed aluminum interior package in black and naturally the Porsche crest on the headrests had to be included in this package too, and just as a final touch of class, all Platinum Edition will come with an analogue clock in the dashboard as standard.

November 15, 2021 / Comments Off

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TECHART GrandGT

TECHART has been known for some of the most impressive Porsche modifications we’ve ever seen, and now they’ve released their GrandGT into the wild, based on the Porsche 971 series, better known as the Panamera and Panamera Sport Turismo, the TECHART GrandGT comes with a significantly modified exterior, custom made interior, and more importantly, a massive power boost.

If your base Porsche is the Panamera GTS version, TECHART will boost power by no less than 180 hp and 150 Nm of torque, on the Porsche Panamera Turbo S the increase is still 90 hp and 130 Nm of torque. This boils down to a healthy 660 hp in the GTS edition, while the Turbo S goes up to a massive 720 hp, in the latter this offers acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds flat, reaching 200 km/h only takes 10,5 seconds while the Panamera Turbo S GrandGT runs out of breath at 315 km/h … that’s Ferrari and Lamborghini territory, in a four-door, four-seat GT car.

With that much power available, we wouldn’t be looking at a TECHART GrandGT if she didn’t come with some serious body modifications too, so for starters, you’ll get a new front bumper that completely replaces the factory unit and flows neatly into a set of wheel arch extensions and wider side skirts, we’re talking about adding 50mm (2 inches) width to the front and 80mm (3.15 inch) at the rear.

And the fun continues at the rear with a new bumper at the back too, with air vents behind the wheels, vertical fins for stability, and a quartet of titanium carbon-fiber tip exhausts, two on either side, for that thundering sound from the tuned Porsche engine at the front. And we’ve saved the best for last … how about a lightweight, carbon-fiber replacement front hood in a new design with an impressive power dome and functional air vents? You can order this front hood in either glossy or satin-finished carbon-fiber, or painted to match the rest of your TECHART GrandGT.

With a body style as aggressive as this, you need a set of matching wheels, and to make the choice even harder, TECHART has come up with three different styles, all in massive 22 inch, to cover the large disk brakes. Also, note TECHART can change the color of the massive calipers into any shade you might desire, either to match the wheels or to contrast them even more, and just in case three different wheel styles isn’t enough, you can opt to have these wheel painted to match anything you like, or go for a diamond polish rim even.

The TECHART Formula V wheel is a classic-looking, multispoke turbine-look design, a total of 20 spokes make this an unmistakable design that never gets old. If you want something more contemporary, the TECHART Formula VI might be more to your liking, thin spokes on this forged aluminum wheel make the GrandGT look very different from the factory original Porsche Panamera.

But probably the most striking design comes with the TECHART Daytona II wheel, an evolution of the classic TECHART wheel, it has been engineered in modern forging technologies. Tires come in 285/30 ZR 22 at the front and 335/25 ZR 22 at the rear, it doesn’t get much wider than these on a road-going car.

And that’s only the exterior, let’s take a look at the interior inside this imposing black TECHART GrandGT, with their in-house saddlery, TECHART can create just about any bespoke look for the luxurious interior of the Porsche Panamera by using smooth leather, perforated leather, and Alcantara in a stunning combination.

A really impressive look is achieved by the meticulous perforation executed on leather parts of the seats, doors, dashboard, and the steering wheel, by using a contrasting color underneath this perforated design you get a kind of ‘glimmer’ effect, the shade is visible through the perforation in a very special way, making it look almost magical. The pattern for this perforation can be bespoke for the client, which could make for some really amazing designs in the future.

Naturally, you can also go down the more classic route of contrasting stitching, special piping on the seats, central console, doors, and dashboard, or go for color matching trim around the personalized floor mats, both for the front, the rear, and even inside the trunk … just to make sure you know you are driving in a bespoke TECHART build, their logo gets embossed on the door panels, in the floor mats, while both front and rear seats get a TECHART logo embroidered on the headrests, preferably in a contrasting color.

A completely custom-made steering wheel is on your request list? No problem at all for TECHART, a bespoke ‘driving mode’ switch, for instance, color-matched painted sections, perforated leather with that ‘glimmer’ look combined with Alcantara, a splash of carbon-fiber, contrasting stitches … everything is possible from TECHART, and the factory original items like multifunction buttons, paddle shifters, and even the steering wheel heating are kept fully functional for your comfort.

If you really want a Porsche Panamera you don’t see on every corner of the street (in some regions), you should get in touch with TECHART and have them build a bespoke GrandGT just for you …

May 2, 2021 / Comments Off

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Prototype Drive: 2021 Porsche Panamera Facelift

Okay, perhaps Porsche should have skipped the camouflage: It draws more attention to our Panamera than it would have received without the attention-grabbing stickers. We are behind the wheel of the facelifted Porsche Panamera, to be launched in late August; it is fine-tuned in every respect – and still by far the sportiest entry in the luxury car segment.

The Panamera has two faces: Built in two wheelbases and with a Sport Turismo station wagen derivative, it offers all the room of an Audi A8, a BMW 7-series or a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. And since a new, technologically stunning S-Class is just around the corner, Porsche needed to do something to make the Panamera an even better, more comfortable long-distance cruiser.

2021 Porsche Panamera Facelift

That’s why it is a bit softer in the comfort-oriented driving modes, and that’s why the infotainment system has been vastly upgraded: It is faster than before, it features a higher-resolution display screen and it has a superior voice recognition system. The Panamera, if so desired by the driver and passengers, offers a serene environment ideally suited to long-distance travel.

But the upgraded chassis and tweaked driving modes can swing the other way, too: Improvements to the adaptive damping system, the anti-roll system, the torque vectoring system and the noticeably sharper steering turn the Porsche Panamera into an even better performer. And that’s important as well, as new competitors such as the four-door AMG GT and the BMW M8 Gran Coupe have arrived on the scene.

Changes to the exterior are rather minimal: The rear light strip now runs in an unbroken line from side to side, the Sport Design package is henceforth standard, and there are the obligatory new wheels and colors. Inside, there is a new steering wheel and new available wood trim. And we praise Porsche for keeping the traditional gated gear selector that allows the driver to up- and downshift with the flick of the wrist. Alternatively, there are solid and beautifully executed shifter paddles.

The powertrain lineup is significantly upgraded, with two conventional 2.9-liter V-6 models, two 4.0-liter V-8 models and three plug-in hybrids, of which two are based on the V-6 and one on the V-8. The battery is bigger than before, electric range grows by 30 per cent. All-wheel drive is standard with the exception of a few select markets, where Porsche offers and entry-level model with rear-wheel drive, and all models are fitted with a quick-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, affectionately known as Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe.

The six-cylinder lineup consists of the Panamera 4 with 330 horsepower and the Panamera 4S with 440 horsepower; the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid will make around 460 horsepower, while the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid – a new addition to the lineup – is rated at 560 horsepower.

The V-8 lineup begins with the GTS, which climbs from 460 to 480 horsepower; the 550-horsepower Turbo is killed off in favor of a 630-horsepower Turbo S, and there is only one hybrid here: The Turbo S E-Hybrid, which gets another 70 horsepower to crack 700.

But enthusiasts should know that the Turbo S is fitted with a more interesting engine than the Turbo S E-Hybrid: While the hybrid’s V-8 carries over unchanged and is largely identical to the electronically detuned unit on the GTS, the 630-horsepower unit is significantly fine-tuned with unique pistons, crankshaft and timing chain, larger turbochargers, new injectors and even higher-performance spark plugs. Add to this the fact that it is very significantly less heavy than the hybrid, the enthusiast’s choice should be clear: Pick the regular Turbo S, and it’ll likely be faster on the track, too.

If it’s comfortable long-distance cruising you’re after, the choice is less clear. The hybrids are economical only when driven over short distances and duly plugged in after each drive. Meanwhile, Porsche has missed the opportunity to bring back the fabulous 4.0-liter V-8 diesel that was briefly available on the pre-facelift model and commands sky-high prices on the used-car market. Our choice would therefore be the GTS: You can’t beat the V-8 rumble – it’s just so soothing.

We loved driving the facelifted Panamera. Look for the cover to come off in late August.

July 28, 2020 / Comments Off

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Porsche Panamera 10th Anniversary Editions Revealed

It’s hard to believe that the Porsche Panamera is 10 years old. The production version debuted at the Auto Shanghai International Automobile Show in 2009. It was a controversial design back then. It has mellowed in recent years, yet it has also proved a massive sales success, shifting 251,000 models.

The Porsche Panamera 10th Anniversary Editions have been revealed to celebrate the milestone. The special edition package is available for the four Panamera 4 models; the Saloon and Sport Turismo models of the Panamera 4 and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.

Porsche Panamera 10th Anniversary Edition

Each example will get a ‘Panamera 10’ badge repeated on the interior and the exterior. White-gold decorative stitching will punctuate the interior leather.

The Porsche Panamera 10th Anniversary Editions will get new 21-inch Panamera Sport Design wheels in satin-gloss White Gold Metallic.

A huge amount of additional equipment will also be bundled in; LED matrix headlights including PDLS Plus, Lane Change Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, Park Assist, panoramic roof system, privacy glass, heated 14-way comfort seats and the BOSE Surround Sound system.

The special edition models will also receive adaptive three-chamber air suspension, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Power Steering Plus.

The catch? The Porsche Panamera 10th Anniversary Edition will only be made available in Germany.

GTSPIRIT NEWSLETTER

October 5, 2019 / Comments Off

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Planned 2014 Porsche Panamera Plug-In Hybrid

Sources stated that Porsche AG is set to build a plug-in hybrid version of the Panamera sedan beginning in 2014.

The plug-in hybrid likely will come to the United States, but the timing is unclear, a source said.

Volkswagen AG, which happens to own 49.9 percent of Porsche’s sports car business, will also be rolling out plug-in hybrid versions. In 2014/2015, Volkswagen AG will begin introducing plug-in hybrid variants of the Audi Q7 crossover and European-sold VW Passat.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler reported at the 2012 Geneva auto show that the next-generation Audi A3 will also get a plug-in hybrid variant in 2014.

In an interview last week, Rudolf Krebs, VW’s group chief officer for electric traction, said, “We are really convinced that the future of hybrids won’t be pure hybrids, but the plug-in hybrids.”

What makes the plug-in hybrids different from regular hybrids? Hybrids, like the well-known Toyota Prius, is equipped with two propulsion systems, a gasoline or diesel engine and an electric motor. To put it plain and simple, they do not plug in. The Chevrolet Volt, on the other hand, is a plug-in hybrid that is powered by an electric motor and battery pack that is backed up by a gasoline or diesel engine which extends driving range and recharges the battery.

What’s the advantage of plug-in hybrids? Krebs says it is their ability to use electric power for short distances and still get the range of an internal-combustion engine.

In the next couple of years we’re going to start to see manufacturers like VW heavily introduce more plug-in hybrid versions.

March 20, 2012 / Comments Off

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