Tuesday 3rd May 2011

Porsche Panamera Pushes The (Range) Envelope

Chip fryers of the world rejoice, there's room for a Porsche in the family

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Porsche reckons you'll be able to eke 745 miles out of every 80 litre tankful you pour into its new Panamera diesel - which goes on sale in the UK in August priced from £62,143.

This amazing fact means, they say, that you'll be able to 'take four passengers in sporting comfort from Lands End to Loch Ness without refuelling'. Although what you're supposed to do with said passengers when you get there is anyone's guess, especially as they're likely to be quite bored already...

That's because the diesel Panamera features a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine that makes a not terribly exciting 250hp, although with 405lb ft of torque available from 1,750 rpm to 2,750 rpm the car isn't a total sluggard. Porsche claims 0-62mph in 6.8secs and a top speed of 150mph, which should be enough to impress everyone except, er, Porsche drivers?

With rear-wheel drive, an eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox, and start-stop as standard, your tax accountant should be impressed as the car emits 172 g/km with that 43.5mpg combined economy figure. With optional lower rolling resistance tyres, efficiency improves further still, to 167 g/km and 44.8mpg combined.

Diesel tech geeks will be pleased to hear the new model's 3.0-litre V6 engine is state of the art, featuring common rail direct injection through piezo valves at a pressure of 2000 bar, turbocharging employing electrically controlled variable geometry turbochargers (VGTs) and emission control achieved by controlled exhaust gas recirculation, oxidation catalyst and particle filter.

Oh, and in case anyone is any doubt about your new Porsche's credentials, it says 'diesel' on the front doors. (Stop sniggering at the back...)

[lgomgf]

I dont get it... we have an XJ diesel here in our company (big boss car)... it has, I think, 275 ponies. Why cant VAG/Porsche make a 3 liter diesel with a little more power for their sport cars? Tuners car get 300 ponies out of my A4 3.0 TDI... what is the problem for Porsche to do this, let say, in a more reliable way than any tuner?

[lgomgf]

TonyHetherington said:

Why the negativity?

The Panamera has a very specific role; cross country people moving in comfort. A diesel version is a logical extension of that.

Ok the badge is horrid, I'll certainly give you that, and I've never been a fan of the Panamera's shape. But doing what it's meant to do; cross continent blasting, I'm sure it's superb.

I am not being negative, I would buy one no problem... It is just about the bragging rights... you know, you buy a Porsche and it should be special, not to have the same engine I have in my current car, which is a little (about 20K)cheaper than that Porsche...

Like people said before, I see no point in buying this car if I can get a brand new XJ which is more powerful and probably more comfortable... I drove the XJ quite a bit already, have never drove a Panamarena, but seat on one in the showroom and nothing special about it... I would not trade the XJ for it, not on diesel engine configuration.

I drive about 50k kilometers a year, most of it in Germans autobahns, I want a car that car cruise comfortably at 180 to 200km, the XJ does that perfectly, I dont see the 250HP Porsche being able to do the same comfortably...