Porsche has been teasing us with concepts for a
shooting brake version
of the Panamera since 2012 but has finally confirmed details of its new Panamera Sport Turismo ahead of a Geneva debut next week.
There are the expected promises of "everyday usability and maximum vitality" but, given it's based on the
new Panamera
, it's the look of the thing that'll be of most initial interest. And while style is, of course, a subjective matter the already handsome second-generation Panamera seems further improved with the addition of this extra rear space. Begging the question, what took them so long? Certainly in combination with the fabulous interior introduced on the new Panamera the options for luxurious and practical transport have been expanded in some style.
A few points of order first though. Fresh from the B-pillars back the Sport Turismo features what Porsche claims is the first variable spoiler on a car of this type, pitched under the Porsche Active Aerodynamics branding. The three-stage wing can generate up to 50kg of downforce on the rear axle in its extended 'performance position' of +1deg. This only engages at a rather incriminating 106mph (170km/h) but, don't worry, in Sport or Sport Plus modes it'll emerge at just 56mph. Cleverly it'll also raise to +26deg at the same speed if you've got the panoramic roof open to minimise turbulence and wind noise in the cabin.
This is also the first Panamera to be offered with a five-seat configuration or, to be strictly accurate, a '4+1' in Porsche's words. The established Panamera configuration of four full-size seats is also available. Either way, is the Sport Turismo a true estate car that'll double up as a very fast means of getting the garden rubbish to the tip or the dogs to the local park in the way an
RS6 Avant
Erm, not really. For all that supposed increase in luggage space and practicality the boot is actually just 20 litres bigger - 520 litres to the top of the rear seats or 425 litres with the E-Hybrid. With the seats down that increases to 1,390 litres or 1,295 litres on the hybrid. For comparison aforementioned RS6 Avant is 565 litres to the seat backs or 1,680 litres with the seats flat and loaded to roof height. Given the shape of the Sport Turismo it's clear you're not going to be shifting fridges or other boxy loads in the back. But then that wouldn't be very lifestyle, would it.
For a general sense of the Sport Turismo's purpose, ambience and driving style it's probably safe to reference the
regular Panamera
and deduce the quality, style and gadget count will be suitably lavish. Porsche acronym spotters can feast on the tech both inside, outside and beneath the car, aforementioned PAA aero joined by PTM active all-wheel drive, the Porsche Advanced Cockpit, Porsche InnoDrive cruise control, PDCC active anti-roll, PASM dampers working with (S models and above) multi-chamber air-springs, rear-axle steering and much more besides. Expect much of the fancier stuff to be on the options list though, as is the Porsche way.
All Sport Turismos will be all-wheel drive, the range starting at £73,071 for the 330hp petrol V6 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo. That's just over two grand more than the equivalent model in the saloon range. The E-Hybrid version costs £83,288, the 440hp 4S is £93,979, the 422hp V8 4S Diesel is £97,067 and the full beans 550hp Turbo is yours for - brace yourself - £117,247. OK, all things relative it's fairly long in the tooth now but that would seem to make the still handsome CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake look a conspicuous bargain, given it offers 585hp for £86,875. From its interior to its sheer size Porsche clearly has loftier ambitions for its new Panamera though, reflected in the price and market positioning.
But we return to the main thing we'll be deducing from the show unveiling and that's the style. A more definitive view on this when we get to see it in the metal next week.