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Design and Build
As before, Panamera customers can choose the usual Gran Turismo-style five-door body shaper in either standard or long wheelbase forms; or a 'Sport Turismo' estate variant. Either way, the styling revisions here are subtle. The previously optional 'Sport Design' front end is now standard, which features larger air intakes, a different grille and a single-bar front light module. Smarter LED tail lights feature at the rear, with darkened lenses on the GTS variant. Plus there are fresh alloy wheel designs too. Under the skin, as before, sits the stiff, light MSB (Modularer Standard-Baukasten) architecture that the Volkswagen Group uses for all its largest, most luxurious cars.
Inside, the changes made to this revised model are far less evident but Porsche says it's made a lot of improvements to the car's infotainment system, accessible via a 12.3-inch colour touchscreen in the centre of the dash. They've enhanced the voice control, added in wireless 'Apple CarPlay' smartphone-mirroring and incorporated live road sign and hazard information. As before, there's also a pair of configurable 7.0-inch screens in the instrument binnacle, though we'd still prefer a full screen set-up like Audi's 'Virtual Cockpit'. As usual with a GT five-door, the sloping roofline and large rear pillars mean that rearward visibility is a little compromised.
Market and Model
Prices start at around £70,000 for the base Panamera which comes only in five-door form. £3,000 more gets you the Panamera 4 and at that point, you'll have the option of finding the extra £2,000 or so needed for the alternative Sport Turismo estate body style. Think in terms of a budget of around £85,000 for a Panamera 4 E-Hybrid - or around £102,000 for the 4S E-Hybrid. As for the more conventional sporting versions, the 4S is around £93,000, the GTS around £107,000 and the Turbo S around £137,000.
Still, it's also hard to argue with the amount of kit the car gets as standard. There's a full leather interior, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Bi-Xenon headlights, front and rear ParkAssist, tyre pressure monitoring, 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic dimming rear view mirrors, Porsche Communication Management with touch-screen satellite navigation and audio controls, cruise control and a three year warranty. That's on top of a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS). You're probably going to want to add adaptive air suspension if it's not already included on your variant of choice. And probably the optional 'Sport Chrono' pack too.
Summary
The market has always offered very fast, very luxurious full-sized Luxury saloons. Rarely though, have they been very rewarding to drive. The Panamera has always been different, very much in a class of its own for boardroom buyers who don't spend all their lives wafting up and down autobahns. In its earlier forms, it was so nearly a truly great car. So nearly the impressively complete contender the improved version of this second generation model now is.
Of course, we're not blind to its failings. Prices have risen substantially, something that would be easier to stomach had Porsche not been so mean with some aspects of the standard spec and consigned so many important features to the options list. Some still struggle with the styling too and will prefer the kind of conventional luxury saloon that will give you a bigger, deeper boot. Limo-like models of that sort though, wouldn't see which way this car went on a twisty road. Nor are they as practical for leisure use. In summary, if you still enjoy driving and like the way that this contender looks, you'll love the way it rewards you at the wheel. The Panamera's unconventional. It's unique. But best of all, it's a proper Porsche.
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25 июл 2024
