\u2192Test-driving the new Panamera Turbo\u2014and feeling utterly outclassed.<\/a><\/p>\nTo make matters worse, that post became the most-read article on the blog and started climbing the search rankings, so I decided it was high time to revisit the test drive. I\u2019m not a motoring journalist or an automotive expert, and I can\u2019t offer a technical breakdown of the chassis, suspension, or torque. So, as a Porsche fan rather than a professional,<\/strong> I\u2019d like to share my own impressions<\/strong> of the cars.<\/p>\nDoes the New Panamera Raise the Bar?<\/h3>\n
I test-drove the new Panamera in February and March that year: the Panamera 4S in February and the Panamera Turbo in March. At the time, automotive media and motoring journalists were saying that \u201cthe new Panamera has far exceeded our expectations.\u201d<\/strong> But our 970 Panamera Edition already had more than enough performance for us, so I wasn\u2019t sure just how much better the new model could really be.<\/p>\nThen I drove the Panamera 4S, and within two seconds of pulling away, I knew: \u201cThis has completely surpassed the previous model.\u201d More than an upgrade, though, the new Panamera and the previous Panamera felt like completely different cars.<\/strong> It didn\u2019t feel so much like the Panamera had evolved as if \u201csomeone had taken a 911 and simply made it bigger.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nThree Key Differences Between the Previous and New Panamera<\/h3>\n
First, here are my impressions of the differences between the previous Panamera and the new one. I was comparing a Panamera Edition with a Panamera 4S\u2014not the base Panamera\u2014so this isn\u2019t a direct comparison with the standard model. Still, three differences stood out to me.<\/p>\n
\u2460 Smooth, Easy Pull-Away<\/h4>\n
The new Panamera pulls away lightly and smoothly. A gentle press of the accelerator is all it takes to set it gliding forward, almost as if it were on rails. There\u2019s none of that heavy, \u201cheave-ho\u201d feeling you might expect from such a large car. And yet, it still feels firmly planted on the road.<\/strong> It grips the pavement confidently and delivers a comfortable ride that\u2019s neither too firm nor too soft. Maybe that\u2019s thanks to the air suspension. My test drive was mostly around town, with plenty of stops at traffic lights, but pulling away never felt like a strain, despite the car\u2019s size.<\/p>\n\u2461 It Doesn\u2019t Feel Like a Big Car<\/h4>\n
This may be related to how smoothly it pulls away, but the new Panamera simply doesn\u2019t feel as large as it is. In reality, it\u2019s 1,900 mm wide and more than five meters long, yet you\u2019d hardly know it. I almost found myself wondering, \u201cHas the new Panamera shrunk a size?\u201d<\/strong> I never felt nervous about driving such a large car, and it was surprisingly easy to handle.<\/p>\n\u2462 A Refined, High-Pitched Engine Note<\/h4>\n
The engine sounded wonderful. As I pressed the accelerator, a refined, high-pitched note came from behind, making it feel as though the engine were right at the rear of the car. Even drivers who aren\u2019t keen on loud engines might find this level of sound perfectly agreeable. (I wonder if the car had sound-insulating glass…)<\/span><\/p>\nThose were my impressions of the new Panamera 4S. I didn\u2019t get to open it up on the highway or carve through a mountain pass, so I\u2019m sure I experienced only a small part of what it can do.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, my overall impression was that \u201cpeople who love the 911 are likely to love this car.\u201d<\/strong> Personally, though, I found it a little too restrained. The 4S struck me as a model that does everything right, and I found myself wishing it had a touch more rawness.<\/p>\nThree Key Differences Between the New 4S and Turbo<\/h3>\n
After that, I test-drove the new Panamera Turbo. Here are three major differences I noticed between the new Panamera 4S and the new Panamera Turbo. I was surprised by how different the two felt, even though they were both Panameras.<\/strong> So, when it comes to the new Panamera Turbo:<\/p>\n\u2460 It Still Feels Big\u2014in a Good Way<\/h4>\n
I\u2019m someone who enjoys the feeling of driving a substantial car. Of course, I want it to take corners smoothly, and I don\u2019t like awkward body sway caused by excessive weight\u2014but with the Panamera, those aren\u2019t things I need to worry about. The new Panamera Turbo pulls away far more lightly than our Panamera Edition, but compared with the 4S, I felt it retained more of that big-car character.<\/p>\n
\u2461 A Refined, Deep V8 Growl<\/h4>\n
Unlike the 4S\u2019s higher-pitched note, the Turbo has a deep, layered rumble. I love the \u201cvroom!\u201d when you start the engine\u2014it has a real<\/strong> \u201call right, let\u2019s hit the road!\u201d feel to it.<\/strong> I\u2019d been looking forward to hearing it when I started the car, but the engine was already a little warm, so it sounded more restrained than I\u2019d expected. I imagine it would have been quite a sound with a cold engine. When accelerating, you get that unmistakable V8 note, too. I love Porsche engines because they don\u2019t just make a lot of noise\u2014they sound refined.<\/p>\n\u2462 Two Sides to Enjoy<\/h4>\n
It\u2019s a Turbo, after all, so it has more power and stronger acceleration than the 4S. Its N\u00fcrburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes 38 seconds made headlines in Germany. Motoring journalist Goro Okazaki described its acceleration as \u201clike a ferocious beast pouncing on its prey,\u201d<\/strong> and that\u2019s exactly how it feels when you accelerate on the highway.<\/p>\nAt the same time, around town and while cruising on the highway, the Turbo can be luxurious and composed. Graceful in the city, ferocious on the highway, and responsive through mountain-road corners: its ability to deliver the right kind of drive for every situation is one of the Turbo\u2019s greatest strengths.<\/strong><\/p>\nPanamera 4S or Turbo: Which Should You Buy?<\/h3>\n
So, in summary, if you want a car that\u2019s easy and fun to drive, I\u2019d recommend the 4S.<\/strong> It\u2019s also the clear choice if most of your driving is around town, rather than on mountain roads or highways. But if you want more than an everyday luxury car\u2014if you\u2019re looking to enjoy winding roads, value acceleration and stability at high speeds, and want a car that\u2019s rewarding in a variety of driving situations, I\u2019d go for the Turbo.<\/strong>(Though perhaps not many people are looking for quite that combination.)<\/span><\/p>\nAnd since our family values both driving enjoyment and everyday comfort, we chose the Panamera Turbo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Test-Driving the New Panamera I test-drove the new Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo a while back. I wrote about the experience on the blog, but the Turbo\u2019s acceleration and high-speed stability were so extraordinary that I was completely intimidated\u2014and ended up writing a test-drive review that probably didn\u2019t make much sense\u2026 \u2192Test-driving the new Panamera Turbo\u2014and feeling utterly outclassed. To make matters worse, that post became the most-read article on the blog and started climbing...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=62","footnotes":""},"categories":[72,31],"tags":[221,238,242],"class_list":["post-36489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testdrive","category-aboutpanamera","tag-221","tag-porsche-panamera","tag-air-suspension","en-US"],"yoast_head":"
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