2010 Porsche Panamera First Drive Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 01, 2009

3:49 min

There are few things as rewarding as driving an all-new Porsche on its home turf. And that�s exactly what we did with the 2010 Panamera.

As the Panamera makes its way across the Bavarian countryside toward the Alps, it�s clear to us that the Porsche engineers have found a superb balance between comfort and performance, between a car that takes you places and a car�s that�s a tool for real drivers.

There are three versions of the Panamera � S, 4S and Turbo. We sampled all three, but of course it�s the version powered by the 500-hp, twin-turbo V8 that makes the best use of the expansive Autobahn. Porsche tells us that the Turbo with the Sports Chrono package will get to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds.

The 4.8 liter V8 is good for 400 hp in the S and all-wheel-drive 4S model. The sound from this engine is unlike anything you�ve ever heard coming from a large sedan. And of course this wouldn�t be a Porsche without the option carbon-ceramic brakes.

Yet as remarkable as the Panamera is, there�s a minor issue � one that�s cropped up before on other Porsches.

Though Porsche has emphasized the performance end of things with this dramatic four-door sedan, there�s also enough luxury to make your typical BMW 7 Series owner feel right at home. The rear seat and cargo area are also remarkably spacious.

In typical Porsche form, the entire center console is filled with buttons. And by filled, we mean there�s room for 28 of them. A touch-screen control panel is standard on the Panamera as is dual-zone climate control.

For audiophiles there�s an optional Bose audio system or a top of the line Burmester system which offers 16 speakers and 1000 watts of power.
Look for the 2010 Porsche Panamera to go on sale in the U.S. in October 2009. Pricing will range from $89,800 for the S model all the way up to $132,600 for the Turbo.
With the success of the Cayenne sport-utility, it�s hard to knock the appearance of a passenger sedan from a company that has been devoted to sports cars for so long � even so haters and purists will look for reasons not to like it. But that doesn�t change the fact that this is an excellent all-around automobile.