Unlike the Cayenne, which faced tremendous resistance from purists despite its financial savior role, the Panamera has always enjoyed a much warmer welcome from those who believe Zuffenhausen machines should only come in two-door form. Most of the credit for the sedan's easier entry is owed to the fact that many of us wish for a four-door 911, whether we express this or keep it a secret.
The reason is simple: by the time you end up affording a Neunelfer, you realize adding a pair of doors isn't such a bad idea. And while we could never overlook the rear-engined difference between the 911 and the Panamera, we could at least try to trick ourselves with the help of the latter's styling.
Alas, the first generation of the Panamera didn't exactly help with this, despite being fast enough for the sweet deception mentioned above. That's because its appearance was an opinion splitter, to put things mildly, and its rather tight rear seat area determined the Germans to come up with the Panamera Executive long wheelbase afterthought (released with the mid-cycle revamp).
Well, the second-gen Panamera, which has just been unveiled in Berlin, manages to overcome both issues mentioned above.
For one thing, the 2017 Panamera finally pays a true visual nod to the well-aged appearance of the 911, as you can see in the image gallery below.
Then there's the size of the thing. The new model, which comes with a full aluminum construction, is longer, wider and taller than the car it replaces. Also, the wheelbase has seen a slight increase. As for how the carmaker achieved such a melange of practicality and styling, the sweeping roofline and the generously-sized wheels (19-21 inches) helped quite a lot.
Oh, and those of you who appreciated the active rear spoiler drama of the first Panamera should check out the way in which the wing of the new Turbo unfolds itself when the driving mode knob we've already met on the 991.2 and 718 Boxster/Cayman is touched.
As for the interior, we have to start with the analog tachometer we talked about when the Turbo S leaked online. This links the Panamera to the 1955 356 A, but is flanked by a pair of seven-inch display that completes the instrument cluster.
Zuffenhausen loves acronyms, so the 12.3-inch infotainment display on the center of the dash is called Porsche Advanced Cockpit. Whatever tickles your Le Mans bone.
Nevertheless, it seems Porsche and Google still haven't managed their trust issues, as only Android Auto is mentioned.
As expected from the company, the tech side of the car is all new. For starters, ZF has worked with the automaker on the second-generation PDK, which had eight ratios. And a lot of hidden magic we'll probably get to discover soon. Oh, and let's not forget the rear-axle steering.
The US line-up currently starts with the Panamera 4S (all models above 400 horses come with all-wheel-drive). We're dealing with a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 producing 440 hp and 405 lb-ft (550 Nm) of twist. This will get you to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, or, if you add the optional Sports Chrono Package (do it), 4.2 seconds, while the top speed sits at 180 mph (290 km/h).
As for the 2017 Panamera Turbo, this is motivated by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 churning out 550 hp and 567 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque. This rivals the previous-generation (997.2) 911 Turbo's 0 to 60 sprint, getting the job done in 3.6 seconds. Make that 3.4 seconds if you follow your Sport Chrono urge. Top speed? 190 mph (306 km/h).
The 2017 Porsche Panamera is scheduled to hit US dealers just in time for next year's Detroit Auto Show (January 2017). The 4S comes with a MSRP of $101,040, while the Turbo hostilities kick off at $147,950. Make sure you pack enough money for the delicious black hole that is the list of Porsche optional extras, though.
Europeans have also been gifted with the new Panamera 4S Diesel. This borrows the Audi SQ7's 3,956cc V8, which sees its conventional turbos being added by an electric one. With the Porsche badge, the engine delivers 422 PS and a peak torque of 850 Nm (627 lb-ft). The oil-burning Panamera can complete the 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 4.5s (4.3s with Sport Chrono), while its maximum velocity sits at 177 mph (285 km/h).
The 4S Diesel comes with a German market price of EUR116,954. As for the 4S, this starts at EUR113,027, while the Turbo can be your for at least EUR153,011 - the prices include 19 percent VAT.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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