Here’s why Porsche’s all-new Panamera is at home in a traffic jam and a circuit

Porsche has unveiled the 2nd gen Panamera sedan. The car blends two distinct DNAs seamlessly – the comfort and convenience of a luxurious sedan, and the break-neck performance of a blue blooded sports car. Perched at being a landmark performance icon in the luxury category, it’s looking to bridge the gap between cramped performance-focused sports cars and long bonnet luxurious sedans.

A luxury sedan with a sporting DNA
The new Panamera coalesces the cruise style of a sedan with the performance of a sports car.

The steering system can be supplemented with an adaptive air suspension, including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM electronic damper control), the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport) and Porsche’s Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) and roll stabilization systems.

The steering is way more precise now, and the handling is way better. Braking performance has also improved.

New V6 and V8 twin-turbo engines
Power and efficiency are of paramount important to a Porsche buyer. The new V6 and V8 twin-turbo engines take this idea seriously. The redesigned engines have been tweaked to maximize power while improving fuel economy and reducing emissions.

The Panamera Turbo’s 550BHP twin-turbo V8 and Panamera 4S’s 440BHP twin-turbo V6 both come with permanent AWD (all wheel drive) systems and a new eight-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission.

The 911 design theory
The new Panamera, despite being a sedan can’t be mistaken for anything but a sports car. It’s long, dynamic proportions and sloping roofline are much like Porsche’s design flagship, the 911 Carrera.

Cabin geared for superior functionality and intuitive use

The new Panamera’s all-black cabin has a host of interactive displays that offer an intuitive user interface, much like smartphones and tablets. Typical buttons and instruments have been shifted to digital controls where the touch-sensitive panels and individual displays play a bigger part in the car’s overall dynamics.

The new ‘Advanced Cockpit’ shifts the company’s focus from the old analog instrument clusters to the new digital world while staying true to Porsche’s heritage.