Porsche confirms Panamera unveil for November
Third-gen Panamera gets two chassis options, a bigger battery and probably the best part of 800hp
If niche lap records are discounted, it’s been a little while since the Panamera has hogged any headlines. Partly that’ll be because it’s not really the big four-door’s style, but also there’s been a lot else happening on planet Porsche: 911 and Taycan ranges that grow by the week, a new Cayenne, and end-of-the-road 718 specials to name a few. But now it’s the turn of the Panamera to take centre stage, as the reveal of its third generation draws closer (as does 15 years of the Panamera, the original model shown at Shanghai in 2009).
The most significant news for this latest model is an uprating of the battery technology for the plug-in hybrid models alongside what is almost certain to be a choice of revised V6 and V8 petrol engines. Porsche says there will be four PHEVs this time around (compared to three for the current model), employing the 25.9kWh battery just announced for the Cayenne. Customer demand - not to mention the latest emission legislation - dictates it: Porsche reckons that E-Hybrids make up ‘almost 100 per cent’ of Panamera sales in some markets, so of course it’s going to make more of them. A 11kW onboard charger will help reduce the amount of time plugged in, and testing has shown these Panameras to be travelling up to 70 per cent further on electric than the last generation. There’s surely some cause for excitement in all this, too, because the new battery has helped create the 739hp Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid - so expect to see a similar amount headlining a V8-powered Panamera of the same designation. Perfect car to rival a newly electrified, 750hp BMW M5.
As standard, the Panamera gets a semi-active chassis, with dampers that can regulate compression and rebound independently of each other - very clever. But this is a new Porsche, and that means there’s something even cleverer on the options list. For the first time, the Panamera will be offered with an active chassis ‘and a wider range of additional functions.’ Dr Thomas Friemuth, head of the Panamera product line, said of the new tech: “With the active chassis we are setting new standards. We could feel this on every meter of our test drives – very comfortable on the cobblestones in Barcelona harbour, and highly dynamic and agile on the winding country roads outside the city. An incomparably wide range.” With rear-wheel steering, variable all-wheel drive and likely a stiffer platform also on the prospective menu, it’s hardly like the outgoing Panamera is a duffer to drive, either, so expectations are high. Whether or not Porsche has gone the whole hog with the chassis revisions and introduced the 'GT Package' now available with the new Cayenne remains to be seen.
We won't have long to wait. With a testing programme that’s stretched from Scandinavia to South Africa, the 2024 Porsche Panamera is almost ready to be shown to the world. Its reveal will take place at the Icons of Porsche Festival in Dubai on November 24th, Porsche making the most of this 75th anniversary year until the very end. And if that has you thinking it might be a good time to look at old Panameras, join the club: this Turbo S has £40k off its new price, with a 630hp V8 and 196mph potential. Nice.
This is a real question not a dig at either car, I'm interested as to why you wouldn't just go electric, the only thing I can imagine is engine engagement might play a part?
I should say both Taycan and Panamera I assume are probably a wonderful drive and seem in a similar segment but sadly out of my league financially so I'm just interested.
This is a real question not a dig at either car, I'm interested as to why you wouldn't just go electric, the only thing I can imagine is engine engagement might play a part?
I should say both Taycan and Panamera I assume are probably a wonderful drive and seem in a similar segment but sadly out of my league financially so I'm just interested.
I'm hoping this works better as I'm in the office 2-3 days a week where I can get there and back on electric only and then dont have to worry about the charging network when I'm doing site visits around the UK 1-2 days a week.
This is a real question not a dig at either car, I'm interested as to why you wouldn't just go electric, the only thing I can imagine is engine engagement might play a part?
I should say both Taycan and Panamera I assume are probably a wonderful drive and seem in a similar segment but sadly out of my league financially so I'm just interested.
I'm hoping this works better as I'm in the office 2-3 days a week where I can get there and back on electric only and then don't have to worry about the charging network when I'm doing site visits around the UK 1-2 days a week.
I've always liked the Panamera, and never quite understood all the negativity. Like @Numeric, they are out of my league financially
This is a real question not a dig at either car, I'm interested as to why you wouldn't just go electric, the only thing I can imagine is engine engagement might play a part?
I should say both Taycan and Panamera I assume are probably a wonderful drive and seem in a similar segment but sadly out of my league financially so I'm just interested.
This is a real question not a dig at either car, I'm interested as to why you wouldn't just go electric, the only thing I can imagine is engine engagement might play a part?
I should say both Taycan and Panamera I assume are probably a wonderful drive and seem in a similar segment but sadly out of my league financially so I'm just interested.
This time last year, I bought a brand new V8, the same cash could have bought a Taycan. I was tempted, but as I know my next car will almost certainly be (at least partly) electricity biased, this was a chance to have a few years in a noisy, anti-social V8. (an SUV just to annoy even more people)
It's a shame they simply can't effectively do a petrol powered Taycan really. Because as poster has said above, in reality if you're doing real miles relying on an electric-only car has its risks. Let's face it, 90% of Taycans are business contract hire purchases, demoted as a school run car.
I’d certainly rather have a Panamera given the choice and living on a London street the Panamera is still the only car that’s going to be sat there ready to do 500 miles over a weekend without even a thought about fuelling.
I’d certainly rather have a Panamera given the choice and living on a London street the Panamera is still the only car that’s going to be sat there ready to do 500 miles over a weekend without even a thought about fuelling.
....and which human would chose a Panamera if they sometimes did 500 miles non-stop driving over a weekend?
This is a real question not a dig at either car, I'm interested as to why you wouldn't just go electric, the only thing I can imagine is engine engagement might play a part?
I should say both Taycan and Panamera I assume are probably a wonderful drive and seem in a similar segment but sadly out of my league financially so I'm just interested.
....and which human would chose a Panamera if they sometimes did 500 miles non-stop driving over a weekend?
He didn't mention non-stop driving at any point.
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