Friday 19th July 2024

New Panamera GTS and Turbo S E-Hybrid on sale

The big V8 Porsche ain't dead yet - now with up to 782hp

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Never let it be said that Porsche doesn't give its customers choice. For those who found the first variants of the new Panamera a bit tame, or aren’t interested in the Taycan as an electric executive express, there are now two new variants of the former: the GTS, and the Turbo S E-Hybrid. 

The GTS has always been an eminently recommendable Panamera, back to the first generation, combining V8 emotion with a smartly upgraded chassis and some choice options. It was always the nice one if you didn’t need silly Turbo shove. It’s much the same this time around, with 500hp from the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 (up from 480hp before) - nobody really wants to go much faster than 3.8 to 62mph and 187mph. Further lifting the package above the rest of the range are a sports exhaust, ‘particularly sporty tuning’ for the suspension (including a 10mm ride height drop and reinforced anti-roll bars), plus black accents for the body. ‘Twas ever thus for a Porsche GTS - if it ain’t broke and all that. Dark Bronze for the exhaust tips is a nice break from the black. Apparently the Race-Tex application - another GTS hallmark - is ‘lavish’ inside, so best be prepared for Alcantara overload. Specific interior packages are available on top. 

The Turbo S E-Hybrid offers another Focus ST’s worth of V8 welly over a GTS. Its 782hp maximum is 102hp more than the previous model (y’know, the really tardy 680hp one), combining 600hp from a modified version of the V8 and 190hp from the electric motor. That’s supplied by the same 25.9kWh battery as found elsewhere in Porsche’s hybrid range. The stats are predictably nutty: 2.9 seconds to 62mph, 202mph flat out (in a Panamera!), 54 miles of electric range and 738lb ft - or a nice, round 1,000 newton metres. No wonder the PDK has been redesigned to cope with the Turbo S E-Hybrid; it won’t be spinning wheels so much as spinning the planet the other way. And the V8 is ready for Euro 7 emissions, so Porsche definitely sees it having a future in the Panamera.

Though not as overtly driver focused as the GTS, the E-Hybrid does benefit from standard, massive ceramic brakes (440mm front, 380mm rear), Porsche’s Active Ride suspension, and the option of a carbon aerokit. Porsche credits the latter with contributing significantly to its new Nurburgring Nordschleife lap time with the car - 7:24.172 is not only crackers, it’s 5.64 seconds than the last Panamera record there. So 60kg of extra downforce at 124mph was worth something, as were specially designed Michelin Cup 2s. Quite the achievement, but maybe don’t expect many E-Hybrids to leave the showroom like XXL touring cars. 

Speaking of which,both GTS and Turbo E-Hybrid are available to order now, priced from £125,600 for the 500hp model and £168,700 for the 782hp one. Still less than a Taycan Turbo GT, right. Deliveries are expected in the second half of this year and, yes, you’re right to think that old ones are an awful lot less. This previous gen GTS looks superb in Papaya Metallic and is £76,900; this Turbo S E-Hybrid ST has been put to good use, covering just over 60k - it’s for sale at £59,990.

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• 2024 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid | PH Review
• 2023 Porsche 911 S/T | PH Review

[CharverDeeksWorth]

I think they’ve nailed the styling. Looks like a nice place to sit too.

[scenario8]

Since a client cancelled at the last moment I thought I’d waste my life away by playing on the configurator…goodness me things get a bit pricey rather quickly! Cheeky buggers at the best of times are Porsche but it does seem rich in the modern age to be charging an additional £1161 for a head-up display on a car already hovering around 150 grand. £1274 for active cruise control. I have that as standard in “my” 25 grand VAG hatchback. I’d be mildly interested in hearing from anyone knowledgeable quite how much adding ACC on the production line actually costs Porsche. Pennies? Or is it genuinely a thousand pounds worth of extra bits and bobs?

£92.50 for a cushion to cuddle on the back seat!

Still, I’m sure the car itself is rather lovely. Albeit a bit of an outsider in the modern era (in the UK).

[swisstoni]

I don’t think Porsche are exactly going through a golden age of styling.

[Terminator X]

£170k + options, can't imagine too many people will be interested or can afford it.

TX.

[blue_haddock]

Terminator X said:

£170k + options, can't imagine too many people will be interested or can afford it.

TX.

Much more affordable on PCP at £900 a month though

[andy43]

scenario8 said:

Since a client cancelled at the last moment I thought I’d waste my life away by playing on the configurator…goodness me things get a bit pricey rather quickly! Cheeky buggers at the best of times are Porsche but it does seem rich in the modern age to be charging an additional £1161 for a head-up display on a car already hovering around 150 grand. £1274 for active cruise control. I have that as standard in “my” 25 grand VAG hatchback. I’d be mildly interested in hearing from anyone knowledgeable quite how much adding ACC on the production line actually costs Porsche. Pennies? Or is it genuinely a thousand pounds worth of extra bits and bobs?

£92.50 for a cushion to cuddle on the back seat!

Still, I’m sure the car itself is rather lovely. Albeit a bit of an outsider in the modern era (in the UK).

If the car is already drive by wire I'd guess all that's needed for ACC is the sensors which may mostly be in place anyway for the anti-crash brake-at-a-bin-bag systems. HUD sounds more sensible but I do think Porsche take the pee on options.

[911Spanker]

This appeals far more than that Taycan.

As ever Porsche, I doff my cap.

[CG2020UK]

Love the Panamera.

Before COVID they depreciated like a brick thrown off a skyscraper but ever since they have held really stable on price unfortunately.

Incredible daily driver or GT I imagine.

Controversial but I don’t think they have ever been a good looking car however.

[GianiCakes]

Not all the styling works for me on this one, rear end looks a bit Audi GT, but I do love a Panny. Arguably the ultimate GT car.

[Newbie2023]

Which model is the gold car and why does it have a different lower lip design? I can't see it mentioned in the article, is it an additional styling kit?

[el romeral]

Nice and it is reassuring that some normality remains in all the madness!

[kambites]

The interior looks nice. I never liked the proportions of the hatchback Panamera, the estate is far better looking IMO.

[blasos]

No mention of the weight - I wonder why. Another overweight inert barge. Needs to lose 800 kg at least.

[mrclav]

blasos said:

No mention of the weight - I wonder why. Another overweight inert barge. Needs to lose 800 kg at least.

It's 2.4 tonnes. Losing 800kgs therefore would mean it weighed 1600kgs. Whatever you're smoking, go ahead and stay by yourself. The 80s (when cars like this were that kind of weight) are 40 years ago now.

[Nicolas Lazar]

Impressive car, though I tend to feel a bit claustrophobic inside. In some EU countries more than a quarter million Euro - waaay too expensive.

[Wills2]

blue_haddock said:

Terminator X said:

£170k + options, can't imagine too many people will be interested or can afford it.

TX.

Much more affordable on PCP at £900 a month though

Only after you've put down £70k as a deposit.

[Murcielago_Boy]

I ordered new, the previous generation 2023 Turbo S Hybrid in estate guise. One thing people don’t realise is that the Panamera is one of those ‘all things to all men’ type cars. Part EV over short distances, part long distance GT, part wild performance car, part luxury and dog carrier. It’s a wonderful daily especially for those who dislike 4x4s.

This thing is going to be even better. 50 miles of elec range is going to crush fuel usage for many. Then you have near 800hp (which you can never use TBH) and that adaptive ride thing.

Problem is a) there’s no Sport Tursimo, and b) it’s even more monstrously expensive than before. I’ve specced one up to equivalent to my car and it’s a £191k.
Good luck financing one at 10.4%

Fabulous, original choice vs a Bentayga or Cayenne etc. But at £191,000 even I as a previous new buyer has to question whether I’d be better off with Ferrari Lusso and Nissan Leaf!!!!

[Wills2]

I think the GTS is probably a Goldilocks of a car for me, pity about the price vs my income easy to spec it to 150k, the Turbo SE goes to 225k pretty easily if you want all the shiny bits and PTS, shares the same platform as the Bentley CGT IIRC.

Edited by Wills2 on Friday 19th July 08:48

[Tycho]

andy43 said:

scenario8 said:

Since a client cancelled at the last moment I thought I’d waste my life away by playing on the configurator…goodness me things get a bit pricey rather quickly! Cheeky buggers at the best of times are Porsche but it does seem rich in the modern age to be charging an additional £1161 for a head-up display on a car already hovering around 150 grand. £1274 for active cruise control. I have that as standard in “my” 25 grand VAG hatchback. I’d be mildly interested in hearing from anyone knowledgeable quite how much adding ACC on the production line actually costs Porsche. Pennies? Or is it genuinely a thousand pounds worth of extra bits and bobs?

£92.50 for a cushion to cuddle on the back seat!

Still, I’m sure the car itself is rather lovely. Albeit a bit of an outsider in the modern era (in the UK).

If the car is already drive by wire I'd guess all that's needed for ACC is the sensors which may mostly be in place anyway for the anti-crash brake-at-a-bin-bag systems. HUD sounds more sensible but I do think Porsche take the pee on options.

I agree, most options on cars these days are just software switches as all the hardware is there already for cost saving during build. I really like the look of these though as I've not been mad on the previous looks.

[daytona111r]

CharverDeeksWorth said:

I think they’ve nailed the styling. Looks like a nice place to sit too.

Really?? They nailed it in the last iteration, especially in the touring version, which looked perfect imo. Any changes theyve made now just fort he sake of it have made it look less perfect. Like the horrible black plastics around the front.