Goro Okazaki Takes the New Panamera for a Test Drive

My husband sent me a link at work with the message, “Goro Okazaki is test-driving and reviewing the new Panamera!” I watched it right away, and just as at the talk session during the new Panamera preview event, I found his explanations clear and easy to follow. I’m no motoring journalist, and I’m not exactly blessed with a big vocabulary, so all I can usually say about the Panamera is something like, “It’s amazing! It has the presence of a true flagship!” But Mr. Okazaki is a pro, through and through.

His review reflects the perspective of a Porsche fan, while still taking a calm, objective look at the Panamera. I enjoyed it so much that I watched the video more times than I can count, so here are a few excerpts that really resonated with me.

Every Description Hits the Mark

For context, the car Goro Okazaki test-drove this time was the new Panamera Turbo. Here are a few of his observations.

It’s a model with astonishing performance, but there’s nothing edgy or aggressive about it. It keeps all that power in reserve, ready to use when you need it.

I tried a full-throttle launch, and the acceleration when you press the pedal hard is incredible. It even feels like a predator pouncing on its prey.

It’s gentle in everyday driving, but its character changes completely when you put your foot down. This kind of Jekyll-and-Hyde duality is hard to find in other cars.

Take this large-bodied car onto a winding road, and as you start driving, it begins to feel smaller and smaller.

It fits you like a glove and responds just the way you want it to.

The new Panamera has become an incredibly refined four-door sedan, yet it has lost none of Porsche’s sporting soul.

Even the 911 might be jealous—and 911 owners might find themselves feeling a little jealous, too.

Porsche may say its rivals are the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but I bet deep down they’re thinking, “That’s not really the competition, is it?”

What’s fascinating about Porsche is that whether you’re in a sports car, an SUV, or a Panamera, from the moment you sit down, you know: “Yep, this is a Porsche.”

A Porsche never lets you down.

The Panamera isn’t a high-performance sedan; it’s a comfortable sports car.

I’m Already a Goro Okazaki Fan

Wow… I meant to share just a few excerpts, but there were so many points I agreed with that I couldn’t stop writing. I’ll leave it there for now. Motoring journalists know cars inside and out, and they’ve driven so many different models that their comparisons and choice of words can make a car’s character incredibly easy to understand.

I’d love to hear one of Mr. Okazaki’s reviews in person. I wonder if he might be invited as a guest to another Porsche-hosted event someday.