- The new range-topping Panamera will make its first North American appearance at the 2011 New York Auto Show and goes on sale in the U.S. in late spring, priced from $174,175.
- Engine enhancements push output on the twin-turbo 4.8 V8 to 550 horsepower and torque to 553 pound-feet.
- Standard features on the Panamera Turbo S include Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and Sport Chrono Package Turbo.
ATLANTA — Porsche's new range-topping Panamera Turbo S will make its first North American appearance at the 2011 New York Auto Show and goes on sale in the U.S. in late spring, priced from $174,175.
The Panamera Turbo S shares a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 with the Panamera Turbo. New lightweight titanium-aluminum turbines and a modified engine control unit help boost output from 500 to 550 horsepower and torque from 516 to 553 pound-feet. Porsche says the overboost function on the standard Sport Chrono Package Turbo will provide short bursts of peak torque at 590 lb-ft.
The Panamera Turbo S gallops from zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds, with an assist from the vehicle's Launch Control. Top speed is 190 mph. Porsche says the top-of-the-line Panamera should get EPA fuel economy ratings that are "comparable" to those of the Turbo, which is rated at 15 mpg in city driving and 23 on the highway.
In addition to Sport Chrono Package Turbo, standard features on the Panamera Turbo S include Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, as well as new 20-inch Turbo II wheels, an adaptive four-way extending rear spoiler and side skirts from the Porsche Exclusive Range.
Agate Gray Metallic will be an exclusive exterior color, while the cabin will come with a choice of two exclusive two-tone leather finishes, black/cream and agate gray/cream.
Inside Line says: The U.S. sticker, which includes a $975 shipping charge, seems like a bargain, considering U.K. enthusiasts will have to pony up $196,500 and Germans a whopping $235,500. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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panamera4 says:
04:08 PM, 04/21/2011
Thats an interesting opinion tbone85, never heard of anyone cross shopping a Panamera with a CTS even throughout my work field. Ususally the value choice in comparison after the XJ would be a 5 series or another German midsize before stepping down the price ladder to the Caddy. At this price point the decision to go with the Porsche is more emotional than rational. Before purchasing the Panamera, I cross shopped the 550i, 750Li, S550, XJ Supercharged, and Range Rover Sport Autobiography.
lt1boy says:
01:22 AM, 04/20/2011
Let's hope for a Porsche Panamera vs Ferrari FF review in the future.
They should throw in a CTS-V and an M5 just for kicks and giggles, too.
jmaroun says:
06:35 PM, 04/02/2011
boggles the mind at how people can afford these things
tbone85 says:
07:43 AM, 04/02/2011
Sounds like an unbiased review. :-)
bmw__m5 says:
09:10 PM, 03/31/2011
@stingray454
I test drove the CTS- V and that car is all over the road. At low speed the tail swings out and at triple digits it gets floaty, nervous and doesn't track well (can't even keep it in its land).
tbone85 says:
04:14 PM, 03/31/2011
"someone who would be considering a Panamera would not be cross shopping with a CTS."
I work with some fairly wealthy individuals, and you might be surprised at how conversations have changed in this economy. Porsche will sell everyone they build, but there will certainly be some people who can afford a Panamera but who will make a value decision instead.
panamera4 says:
10:40 PM, 03/30/2011
To ejaji:
Porsche is very conservative with their performance numbers, they rate the turbo's 0-60 at 4.0 sec but I have seen as low as 3.5 in road tests. If they rate the turbo S at 3.6, I am sure it will best that by at least a couple of tenths.
To whomever cares to compare the CTS-V and the Panamera, they are a completely different class of cars, they are not competitiors, and someone who would be considering a Panamera would not be cross shopping with a CTS. The main competitiors to this car, the Turbo S, would be the Rapide and the S65 which both start above $200000 and still do not touch the Porsche's performance numbers nor deliver the same balance of super car performance with full size luxury.
Also, considering that Mercedes charges $70000 more for an S65 over an S63 and $50000 over the S600 with which it shares the same basic engine and same level of standard equipment, the fact that Porsche charges $38000 over the regular Turbo does not seem particularly unjust and is in relation to the price jump from the 4S to Turbo.
tdiluv says:
05:57 PM, 03/30/2011
Saw another Panamera the other day and it justs looks unlike what a Porsche should be, as in "small loaf of bread". To load it with that much power,why? You wan't that in something that looks like a super car not a car that travels to the mall to buy some more GUCCI bags and Manolo Blahnik shoes!
ejaji says:
02:32 PM, 03/30/2011
$40000 is alot of money for 50 hp and .1 sec off the 0-60...when they already have the fastest sedan with panamera turbo that can do 0-60 in 3.7 sec @ 135000...
a1c_scg says:
11:02 AM, 03/30/2011
Meh. 1 mph is negligible. And besides, that 1 mph difference is never gonna be enough to catch this anyways, after this leaves the Cadillac in the dust in the first few hundred meters. Can't honestly vouch for road course specs, but I'd wager a substantial amount on the Porker besting the Caddy.
Not taking anything away from the V, because I like it. And I like it's competitors, too. This thing is just in another league. That's why there's such a price difference.