STUTTGART, GERMANY – An all-round turbocharged grand tourer? Fast, check. Comfortable, check. Practical, check. Fun? Indeed. Never mind the fact that the Panamera continues to polarise public opinion, both from the people who can and can’t afford it, since it’s all too easy enough to forget that first and foremost, the Panamera remains a Porsche, although we’re sure some must surely wonder if it’s possible for something that is arguably so ungainly-looking to be fun as well.

This second generation Panamera bolsters the range with some new new models, including the Panamera S E-Hybrid plug-in (also featured this issue) and a newly developed twin-turbocharged V6 for the S and 4S variants. Apart from the edgier styling, the subtle bits that ensure the wings are higher than the bonnet give it a muscularity.

True to Turbo form, the front grille features prominent air-dams to increase the volume of cooling air, with other distinguishing factors comprising the twin dual-exit tailpipes and chrome-coloured air-outlets behind the front wheels. The 20-inch wheels also afford a good view of the distinctive yellow callipers of the optional carbon–ceramic brake system – fade-free and repeatedly powerful performance meant it was worth every cent on the Turbo, given the car’s big performance figures. At full flight, less subtle is the Turbo’s four-way aero-spoiler, which helps reduce rear axle lift, as well as give the cars that can’t catch up something to look at as the Turbo pulls rapidly away.

On the autobahn, the Turbo is near uncatchable, with access to the prodigious turbo thrust available from barely over 2000rpm. Although the top speed is rated at a little over 300km/h, we only managed to breach 265km/h a few times over the course of our time with the car due to a combination of traffic and visibility – on derestricted parts of the autobahn of course – the century sprint comes up in just over four seconds, or 3.9 seconds with Launch Control and the 0-200km/h blast is covered in under 14 seconds. The sense of planted-ness at such speeds as the car hunkers down reinforces the sense of confidence, especially with the all-wheel drivetrain that endows the Turbo with physics-defying levels of adhesion. Steering weight is always natural and easily copes with both high and low speed demands. The charge of forward propulsion is relentless and once pinned in the seat there’s no reprise until the right foot pressure is eased, but even when you slow down for traffic, planting the foot again re-engages warp drive as the scenery rapidly starts to blur again until the driver is looking far, far into the horizon.

However, the Turbo isn’t the sort of vehicle that excels only in the straight-lines, since we made it a point to ‘avoid motorways’ on the on-board GPS whenever possible, which meant the system would route us via the most engaging and relatively deserted B-roads of Bavaria. There’s an innate balance to the car that catches you out, chiefly because of its proportions and perceived weight. We wouldn’t go so far as to call the Turbo twinkletoes, but there’s a lightness and agility to the car that mean it will happily tail a briskly driven hot-hatch down the bends before proceeding to reel it in and blast past it on the straights. The car turns eagerly in response to steering inputs, with the tyres tracking a precise path through any given corner.

Just before you write the Turbo off as a bit of a beast to handle, you enter the city limits and the demeanour changes completely. Disengage Sport (or Sport Plus) – for what it’s worth, we found the ride to be perfectly palatable in Sport – to discover how big a pussycat the Turbo can become, which means a sedate drive that even your wife or gran would approve of. Nothing too hard, firm or crashy, but a suppleness and pliancy that is comfortable but never overdoes it – after all, you wouldn’t buy a Porsche and expect it to coddle you like one of the many luxo-limos out there, right?

NEED TO KNOW
Engine 4,806cc, 32v, V8, turbocharged
Power 520bhp at 6000rpm
Torque 700Nm at 2250 – 4500rpm
Gearbox 7-speed dual-clutch
Top Speed 305km/h
0-100km/h 4.1 seconds
Fuel efficiency 10.2L/100km
CO2 239g/km
Price $680,388 without COE
Availability Now

Pictures by Porsche