Pre-Testing of the 911

Porsche’s catalog specs are accurate, and in fact, sometimes the actual numbers even surpass the catalog figures, as I wrote in a previous blog post. At that time, I knew a little about Porsche’s grueling tests in the scorching heat of Death Valley, but recently I was amazed to find an article stating that “the pre-testing of the new Porsche 911 Carrera covered an incredible 3 million kilometers.”

…3 million kilometers (；ﾟДﾟ)

Since the equator—the Earth’s “waistline”—is about 40,075 km, this means the test driving distance is roughly equivalent to circling the Earth about 70 times. The article described the following:

The 911 series is always developed to achieve both “high performance” and “everyday usability,” and to further enhance comfort, it undergoes rigorous testing. Specifically:
① In summer, testing in Death Valley where temperatures exceed 50°C focuses on maintaining the air conditioning system, engine thermal management, and effects of thermal expansion.
② In Finland’s -35°C cold, tests cover cold starts, traction, handling, braking performance, and response speed of control systems.
③ Testing on circuits in China and rough roads within the Arctic Circle.
④ Comprehensive tests of chassis, engine, transmission, and brakes at the Nürburgring.
⑤ At Italy’s Nardò (which Porsche currently owns), tests focus on stability and cooling at top speeds.
⑥ Data collection at Death Valley’s dry salt lake, about 90m below sea level, the second lowest point in the Western Hemisphere.
⑦ Tests at 4,300m altitude in Colorado’s thin air to check energy recovery efficiency and fuel system performance.

As a result, the test vehicle’s mileage reached an astonishing 3 million kilometers.

*Source: [NEWS] The new Porsche 911 Carrera’s pre-testing covered an incredible 3 million km!

Amazing… they really go that far… I was previously surprised by the smooth ride of the new Cayenne during a test drive with my spouse, and it makes sense that the Cayenne undergoes repeated testing on off-road and rough surfaces, so it’s no wonder it rides so comfortably on regular roads.

That got me wondering, “What about the Panamera’s test drives?” The 911 is Porsche’s flagship model and probably gets extra attention in testing, but what about the Panamera we have at home?

How Is the Panamera Tested?

Searching online, I found a page on Porsche Japan’s site introducing the harsh test environments!

Challenging the limits with the Panamera. Creating the highest quality from hardship. With this radical motto, the next-generation Panamera conducts its final shakedown on the scorching, dusty, gravel-covered lands of South Africa.

“Don’t be so hard on the Panamera…” I thought, feeling a bit sorry for it right from the start (lol). This article covers the “harsh dry-land testing” of the 971 Panamera, and it also mentions that “testing in extremely cold regions has already been completed,” so like the 911, it seems the Panamera undergoes thorough testing from scorching heat to freezing cold.

By the way, the main updates from the 970 to the 971 model include:

・Newly developed 4.0-liter V8 engine
・Increased use of aluminum for weight reduction
・Sportier design with a lower roofline than the previous generation
・Expanded luggage compartment capacity and more spacious interior
・A new ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) system controlled by 13 different control units

All these newly designed parts, among others, undergo testing like this to confirm and improve whether they “function correctly and reliably under any harsh conditions.” The article also mentioned this at the start:

The feel of the center console switches still needs improvement, and the shift-up from 2nd to 3rd gear remains somewhat stiff. This would not be approved by the development manager.

The feel of the switches and the slight stiffness in shifting…

If I were the development manager, I might say, “Everyone’s worked hard, the launch is near, so it’s fine now, okay okay, good job!” But the determination of the manager who won’t approve anything less than perfect, and the pride of the engineers who improve it, is truly impressive.

Apparently, these vehicle tests are prepared and carried out by Porsche’s engineering teams, and here’s a summary of the test content:

・Climbing a steep slalom up a mountain in the scorching heat, then suddenly applying the brakes. The Panamera came to a complete stop within seconds. The first test was a success.

・Today’s test covers 600 km of country roads. The blazing sun mercilessly beats down on the body, quickly covering the vehicle in dust and sand, while it adapts to rough asphalt full of potholes and rapidly changing weather conditions.

・The total test driving distance reaches several hundred thousand kilometers.

・The route climbs to an altitude exceeding 3,000 meters. Although harsh conditions are simulated beforehand in Weissach, nothing beats real-world testing. At the development site, “the truth is on the road.”

・The 8-speed Porsche DoppelKupplung (PDK) operates smoother than ever. Driving at 120 km/h across the scorching land, the noise is minimal, confirming a comfortable drive. The 7th and 8th gears are designed to reduce fuel consumption, significantly improving average fuel economy.

・The test crew suddenly accelerated. This test allows exceeding the speed limit, and official certification has been issued for this.

・Countless potholes relentlessly assault the air suspension and low-profile tires, violently shaking the body and kicking up dust. With such rough roads, the driver must focus solely on the drive ahead.

After such brutal test drives, even upon arriving at the local hotel late at night, the test staff work late into the night solving problems, spending hours poring over the complex prototype guidelines before finally going to sleep. Incredible… if it were me, I’d be completely out cold during the test drive itself (-_-)

Panamera, Hats Off to You.

Finally, about Delner, the overall manager of the Panamera model range, the article said:

Delner reviews the feedback from each crew member and reflects on the day’s tests once again. What details are unsatisfactory? How can they be optimized? He is already simulating tomorrow’s tests.

Wow, just wow. Until now, when I heard there are “people who do Porsche test drives,” I thought,

“Lucky them — they get to drive their favorite cars, and since it’s Porsche, they get paid to say ‘this part isn’t good, that part’s no good.’ What a great job!”

But I was so wrong. Even if I could be involved in developing my beloved Porsche, I could never handle such a grueling job.

Actually, I thought “No one would ever drive a Panamera in such harsh conditions,” but then I read an engineer’s words: “We don’t think any Panamera customers would drive on such rough roads, but testing under these extreme conditions reveals many weaknesses that wouldn’t otherwise be seen.”

I’m truly impressed. No wonder the Panamera is such a great car. By the way, starting today, I’m traveling to Amakusa, Kyushu in the Panamera. We’ll take a ferry there and back, but I’m hoping to tour around Aso while there… though the weather forecast unfortunately calls for rain. (I’m a rain and fog magnet, so I’ve almost never had a sunny trip, but I’m not expecting much this time either.) I’m really looking forward to driving the Panamera again after a while!

*Article & images source: “Porsche’s Harsh Dry-Land Testing” – Porsche Japan