Tuesday 3rd September 2013

Porsche Panamera Diesel updated

Some numbers get bigger, some smaller but the revised diesel Panam gets a whole lot more impressive

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The Porsche Panamera is a divisive car here on PH in any guise, the more so if it's got a hybrid or - ugh - diesel engine under its snout. Grudging admiration of the former was offered in our test on the newly facelifted car earlier in the year, before scurrying to the welcoming bosom of a Turbo S. But as Frankfurt looms Porsche has announced upgrades to the diesel too.

In all honesty this car was in fact announced yesterday but whooshed past without registering a flicker on the PH newsometer. Which it should have done really, given what a certain C Harris said about the pre-facelift example he ran. "Whichever way I looked at it, the Panamera Diesel, when judged on merit as a driving machine and somewhere to spend endless hours, was a great car. For the way I used it, I wouldn't have swapped it for any other petrol variant."

Like a Porsche, just diesel powered

Yes, he said that.

So how about all of that with a 20 per cent power gain to 300hp, eight tenths off the 0-62 (now six dead) and the option to spec an active locking diff and Porsche Torque Vectoring denied previously to diesel customers.

And necessary to help contain the additional 74lb ft of torque - now peaking at 479lb ft - driving through shortened lower gear ratios for punchier acceleration, a longer top gear delivering relaxed cruising. Which'll help the 44.1mpg average and 169g/km, improved from the 250hp car's 172g/km and 43.5mpg on standard tyres.

There's more to this update than a remap and revised gear ratios too - the engine has been thoroughly overhauled with water-cooled turbos, a new crank and pistons and increase in boost pressure from 2.5 to 3.0bar.

Impressive stuff, the new car going on sale in January with the German price of 85,300 euros (including VAT), an increase of around 4,000 euros over the outgoing car. It's hardly a cheap used purchase either, entry level to this particular party rarely found below £50K. If you don't like the idea of a diesel Porsche it'd seem there are plenty that do...

[GroundEffect]

It's impressive...but there is no lust-factor.

[Limpet]

Hugely impressive figures.

Tragically ugly car.

[tram50]

It might be fast, efficient and practical, having four doors.

If you were spending that sort of money and wanted practicality then I'd go for an Aston Martin Rapide.

[kste]

I love it, spoke to my dealer about it today. I test drove a BMW 330D X Drive Touring today. Fast and lovely car but left me cold without any 'lust' factor. Panamera has it in spades.

[fieldmau5]

tram50 said:

It might be fast, efficient and practical, having four doors.

If you were spending that sort of money and wanted practicality then I'd go for an Aston Martin Rapide.

1. A Rapide is not that sort of money.
2. A Rapide is nowhere near as practical.

[LuS1fer]

I hate diesels.
I hate Panameras.
I wonder if people would buy these if they didn't have a Porsche badge...I really do.

[TheBigUnit]

A genuine Marmite car, and I fall into the 'Love it' category. Looking at the stats and specs of the new model, I think a great real-world car just got greater.

[Rawwr]

LuS1fer said:

I hate diesels.
I hate Panameras.
I wonder if people would buy these if they didn't have a Porsche badge...I really do.

What do you think it doesn't do that it's supposed to do?

[umRacing]

How many Panamera haters have actually a) sat in the vehicle b) driven the vehicle and then come away disappointed?

Please come out and tell us why this is a car you dislike.

[j90gta]

Ran a Panamera S for a couple of weeks in the summer. It's a fabulous car to drive and the interior is beautiful. However the stop/start was really intrusive and anything but smooth. I couldn't really get over the size of it though - 5.15 m long and 1.93 m wide. For such a massive car the luggage space is pretty pathetic (couldn't fit 2 suitcases in the boot!), and of course it's only a 4-seater. At least when you're driving it you don't have to look at it - it's sooooo ugly!

[umRacing]

tram50 said:

It might be fast, efficient and practical, having four doors.

If you were spending that sort of money and wanted practicality then I'd go for an Aston Martin Rapide.

If you are tall you cant fit in the back of a Rapide so its not practical.

A decent spec brand new panamera diesel is around 70k. Can you buy an Aston Martin Rapide for the same money? Granted the Rapide has a huge engine and great styling but its in another league in terms of pricing. For the money Porsche ask for this car you get a substantial amount of quality particularly the interior which is up there with bentley levels of quality if not more

[umRacing]

j90gta said:

Ran a Panamera S for a couple of weeks in the summer. It's a fabulous car to drive and the interior is beautiful. However the stop/start was really intrusive and anything but smooth. I couldn't really get over the size of it though - 5.15 m long and 1.93 m wide. For such a massive car the luggage space is pretty pathetic (couldn't fit 2 suitcases in the boot!), and of course it's only a 4-seater. At least when you're driving it you don't have to look at it - it's sooooo ugly!

Definitely agree with the stop/start but you can switch it off which is great

It is huge but that brings big benefits dynamically, wide track and long wheelbase give that very composed feeling.

The ugly thing, well each to their own but it looks very good to me in the metal if the car is spec'd well (turbo wheels and dark paint)

A lot of cars if you spec them wrong look like a dogs dinner. ie: BMW 320d M sport Black / Red Interior vs BMW 320d SE on standard rims in Premium Beige

[P-Jay]

Love it, but sadly for Porsche, unless they're going to offer me an insane trade-in for my Mondeo I'm not going to be able to buy one, sorry.

But, I guess they've got a 100ltr tank so My Wife, our Son and I from home to the Alps in comfort and speed without stopping other than for the Tunnel, oh yes please.

[pSyCoSiS]

I love the Panamera and think that this diesel version has some epic stats for a car of this proportions.

It does seem to have a love it or hate it following...

[neiljohnson]

3.0bar boost pressure!!
Those turbos will be working hard

[Garlick]

Yes. I would.

[infradig]

umRacing said:

How many Panamera haters have actually a) sat in the vehicle b) driven the vehicle and then come away disappointed?

Please come out and tell us why this is a car you dislike.

I think you are making the common mistake of thinking that like or dislike of a car is connected in anyway with logic or technical merit.
I drive a Chrysler 300 and love it, I do know that in every possible way an E class,5 series or A6 is better and makes far more sense, that won't stop me preferring my rattly,inefficient old bus. I don't like X5's and after driving a couple and realising quite how good the latest one is, I like them even less.
So yes, we are all well aware , from a hundred different tests how good Panermera's are ,doesn't mean everyone has to love them. Presumably you own one so should be grateful they're not flooding the market,keeps residuals strong.

[greygoose]

kste said:

I love it, spoke to my dealer about it today. I test drove a BMW 330D X Drive Touring today. Fast and lovely car but left me cold without any 'lust' factor. Panamera has it in spades.

Surely a 4 door 6 series would be a more suitable equivalent to the Porsche then a 3 series estate?

[Fotofrog]

greygoose said:

Surely a 4 door 6 series would be a more suitable equivalent to the Porsche then a 3 series estate?

This was going to be my point.
A 330D X DRIVE is completely different in both car terms and price terms to a Pananananamera

I love this car, having only ever have been a passenger in an old diesel but its a big thumbs up from me.

[Baryonyx]

I have always really liked the Panamera. I can still remember seeing my first one, when I was staying the Dale Lodge in Grasmere, there was a black Panamera outside. And a blue TVR Tuscan. I was taken aback by how good the Panamera looked in person; where it's bulk seems less obvious.*


A car like this isn't meant to be thrown around B roads, like most Porsches it's a comfortable commuter, in this case geared towards range and luxury. Perfect for the London to Aberdeen schlep, or whatever it is you do.

• At the time, the owners of an eco-hotel in the centre of Grasmere had two Cayennes, one of which was a Turbo. I smirked when I thought of how ugly they were compared to the Panamera, and also how the owners of this eco-hotel had ripped off every mug looking for green accommodation.