The Panamera caused something of a stir when it was unveiled in April 2009.
Its front engine, its four doors and its rather offbeat design did not necessarily fit with the very smooth and orthodox image of Porsche built on two-door bodies and flat rear or central mechanicals. The fact remains that it participated in the remodeling of an entire segment. Its newly unveiled third vintage reissues this concept, without calling it into question.
For 2024, this Panamera returns to the basics, namely its chassis. Now equipped as standard with a two-chamber air suspension, it seeks, at least according to Porsche, to better combine its sporting impulses with greater comfort. Thus, the compression and rebound phases can be controlled independently, adding more latitude to this adaptive damping system.
Porsche is adding to its arsenal an optional system which combines hydraulics with pneumatics, making it possible to add a higher layer of supervision of the body movements of this large object which exceeds 5 m in length and which weighs around 2 tonnes.
To support the revised interior and exterior designs with an essentially evolutionary posture, the powertrains are also gaining strength. The entry-level 2.9L turbocharged V6 sees its mapping revised to reach a tally of 348 hp and 368 lb-ft. The E-Hybrid livery benefits from a 4L twin-turbo V8 reworked and fitted with a 187 hp electric motor integrated into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Total power sits at 670 hp, enough for 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds.
This Panamera will retail for $116,300, a rather high sum compared to the competition, despite its weak sales which rank it last among Porsche in Canada. This strategy, however, is in line with the positioning of the Stuttgart manufacturer vis-Ã -vis its rivals.