The new Porsche Panamera lives up to its role of a four-door sports car more than ever before with powerful and efficient drive systems. New models such as the Panamera Turbo S successfully support the car’s claim as delivering best-in-class performance. With the equally new Panamera 4S E-Hybrid, Porsche is presenting a further, powerful plug-in hybrid (more details in the section 'E-Performance').
The new Panamera and Panamera 4 now feature the familiar 2.9-litre V6 biturbo engine worldwide. Just like before, it generates an output of 243 kW (330 PS) and a maximum torque of 450 Nm. All the engines in the new Panamera models comply with the Euro 6d-ISC-FCM emissions regulations.
Panamera GTS – now with the characteristics of a naturally-aspirated engine
Porsche had two specific goals in mind when optimising the four-litre V8 biturbo engine in the Panamera GTS: making the engine tangibly more powerful while simultaneously creating an even more emotive, typical GTS driving experience.
The new Panamera GTS now generates 353 kW (480 PS) and 620 newton metres – 15 kW (20 PS) more output than the predecessor model. However, the power development will probably be most important for purist drivers. Its linearity is reminiscent of a traditional, naturally-aspirated engine: the output continuously increases until maximum rpm is reached.
The torque characteristic now drops significantly less at high engine speeds so that drivers will clearly feel the increased power even beyond 5,500 rpm. The modified torque characteristic has also been geared towards a very constant increase in power in the medium rev range. The result is linearity in the power delivery of the kind typical of purist sports cars and previously reserved for naturally-aspirated engines.
Thanks to its standard sports exhaust system, the new Panamera GTS generates a highly emotive sound. Its rear silencers, in asymmetrical layout, counteract the increased noise reduction in the exhaust tract and the distortion of the specific sound produced by the V8 firing order. The sports exhaust system supports the specific exhaust gas pulses used to create the sound and allows for even finer tuning of the characteristic V8 sound.
The strong character of the new Panamera GTS models is emphasised by the increase in power to 353 kW (480 PS), the characteristics of a naturally-aspirated engine in power delivery and the unmistakable V8 sound, which all in all produce a more emotive driving experience. In Sport Plus mode, the car sprints from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds – an improvement of 0.2 seconds on its predecessor. It has a top speed of 300 km/h.
New Turbo S with revamped four-litre V8 biturbo engine
The familiar four-litre V8 biturbo engine served as the basis for development of the engine for the Panamera Turbo S. The entire crankshaft drive, including crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, timing chain drive and torsional-vibration dampers, has undergone fundamental optimisation. The components have been designed for increased dynamic performance and higher load peaks.
New fuel injectors deliver a higher flow rate at an unchanged, maximum injection pressure of up to 250 bar, enabling maximum power development – even with varying fuel grades. Optimised turbochargers featuring a modified turbine layout generate a higher charging effect at the same engine speeds, thus offering additional potential to boost the output. The spark plugs benefit from a higher platinum content at the electrodes to make them particularly durable and robust. The compression ratio has also been reduced from 10.1:1 to 9.7:1 to reduce the knocking tendency, i.e. the risk of an uncontrolled self-ignition of the fuel/air mixture at high temperatures.
In figures, all these measures result in an output totalling 463 kW (630 PS) and a maximum torque of 820 Nm. The Turbo S accelerates from a standing start to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 315 km/h.
The new sport exhaust system of the GTS is also optionally available for the Panamera Turbo S with asymmetrical rear silencers for a particularly striking V8 sound.
Improved coasting function for added efficiency
The coasting function of the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK), which is activated in normal driving mode and was already part of predecessor models, has also been improved. By monitoring the route ahead and the sensor data from the front radar and front camera, the system decides during each overrun phase if it is more efficient to coast with the combustion engine decoupled or to maintain overrun mode in the current driving situation. The latter can be useful when there is traffic ahead because no fuel needs to be injected in overrun mode and the engine drag torque can reduce the amount of braking required.
The efficiency increases thanks to this intelligent enhancement of the coasting strategy. Last but not least, driving comfort is also improved because coasting does not have to be interrupted as often manually by operation of the brake, accelerator or shift paddle.
