The Panamera Sport Turismo Is Announced

A few days ago, Porsche announced the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Intrigued, I checked the Porsche Japan website, but it hadn’t yet been added to the Panamera Sport Turismo lineup. Meanwhile, my husband was making a big fuss about the “911 GT3 Touring Package (no large rear wing, six-speed manual only)” being announced!

Later that day, we happened to get a call from Mr. H, our Porsche dealer. My husband excitedly told him, “The GT3 is out!” Apparently, Mr. H replied, “That’s right! I only heard about it in the news today, too! lol” Somehow, that feels very Porsche-like. Haha.

We Heard About It After Ordering Our Panamera

The Panamera Sport Turismo made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this spring, and at the time, it was expected to arrive in Japan the following year. Today, I’d like to look at “the differences between the Panamera Sport Turismo and the regular Panamera”, based on what we know so far.

I didn’t learn about the Panamera Sport Turismo until after we’d ordered our Panamera Turbo. One day, my husband said:

“They’ve come out with a wagon version of the Panamera. Apparently, it seats five now. What do you think—should we switch from the Panamera Turbo? It’s probably too late now, though. Oh, unless they haven’t assigned our production slot yet? Haha.”

Canceling our order wasn’t really an option, and I wasn’t particularly looking for a wagon anyway, so we didn’t end up buying the Panamera Sport Turismo.

How It Differs from the Regular Panamera

So, what exactly is the difference between the Panamera Sport Turismo and the Panamera? Test-drive cars hadn’t arrived in Japan yet, so I hadn’t driven one myself. Still, after looking into the available information, I’d like to share the differences that stand out most. The easiest ones to spot are:

① It Seats Five

The Panamera measures “1,423 mm tall, 1,937 mm wide, with a 2,950 mm wheelbase and an overall length of 5,049 mm.” The Panamera Sport Turismo measures “1,428 mm tall, 1,937 mm wide, with a 2,950 mm wheelbase and an overall length of 5,049 mm.” The Sport Turismo’s roofline is raised by just 5 mm; otherwise, the dimensions are identical. In the back, that means going from the regular Panamera’s comfortable two-seat setup with individual seats to a slightly tighter bench that accommodates three.

② It Offers More Cargo Space

Reviews and press releases say the Sport Turismo has more trunk space than the Panamera. The 5 mm increase in roof height creates more room for luggage. Fold down the rear seats and you get even more cargo space, making it possible to carry long or bulky items. That means you could load up a snowboard and head to the mountains in winter.

③ It Has a Wagon-Style Rear

As a sport wagon, the Sport Turismo feels less like a luxury sedan and more overtly sporty, especially when viewed from the side or rear. On the Turbo, the regular Panamera has a two-piece active rear spoiler, while the Sport Turismo’s spoiler is much smaller and less noticeable at a glance. From the front, though, it’s hard to tell the two models apart. Here’s a look from the rear.

And from the side, here’s the regular Panamera…

And here’s the Panamera Sport Turismo.

Side by side, the differences are clear. So who is likely to buy the Panamera Sport Turismo? What kind of driver is it best suited to? I gave it some thought.

Who Is the Sport Turismo For?

✓ Current Panamera Owners?

I doubt many people who already own and love the regular Panamera will trade it in for the Sport Turismo. The fact that it’s gone from a four-seater to a five-seater probably won’t make much difference to them. If seating for five were the priority, they might already have chosen a five-seat Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series instead. People who choose the Panamera over those cars are probably drawn to the regular model’s luxury-sedan character.

✓ Macan or Cayenne Owners?

Many Macan and Cayenne owners seem to prefer the higher ride height of an SUV, so I’m not sure they’d be likely to switch, either. Macans and Cayennes also give you a higher driving position and are easy to drive. After getting used to that, the Panamera’s lower seating position and wide body might make it feel less manageable.

✓ Drivers Who’ve Been Waiting for a Fun-to-Drive European Wagon?

The people most likely to buy one are probably those who’ve been waiting for a powerful, fun-to-drive European wagon. My older brother is a Subaru enthusiast who has driven manual-transmission Legacy wagons for years. He’s always said, “The boxer engine is what makes it great!” and “I love the wagon shape most of all!”

Among today’s popular European wagons, the Audi RS 6 and Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake come to mind. For drivers who’ve found the steering or throttle response of Audi and Mercedes models a little underwhelming, Porsche’s decision to build a wagon could be big news.

What Does It Cost?

The Panamera 4 Sport Turismo starts at ¥12,973,000, before options—which could add several million yen. The recently announced Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, meanwhile, is priced at $189,450 in the United States, including delivery, or about ¥21.3 million at the time.

Th-that’s expensive!

As an aside, the main reason we chose the regular Panamera (the new Panamera Turbo) was its design. The new Panamera’s styling had moved closer to the 911, and it looked fantastic. My husband has always loved the 911, and I’ve always thought it was beautifully designed, too. We felt it would be a shame for the Panamera to lose some of that 911 character by becoming a wagon, so we decided the regular Panamera was the better choice for us.

That said, I’d love to take the Sport Turismo for a test drive once it arrives in Japan! (Since then, my brother-in-law has bought a Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, so I’ve written a comparison test-drive article—see below!)

→ Related article: What’s the Difference Between the Panamera and Panamera Sport Turismo? Comparison Test Drive, Vol. 1