2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo Takes on BMW M6 Gran Coupe and an S63 Coupe

The idea here is that the Panamera flagship needs to be both fast and comfortable at the same time. So it's pitted against the BMW M6 Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-AMG S63 in RWD, coupe form. Obviously, these aren't the perfect rivals, but the Autocar review is mainly for laughs.

Porsche have never been defined purely by specs, and despite having the smallest V8 engine of the lot, the Panamera Turbo is the fastest, both in a straight line and over a timed lap. Of course, this also has to do with the added traction advantages of its AWD in these greasy conditions.

We'll be honest. The steering in the Panamera is not Porsche's greatest achievement. But the fact that you can order both air suspension and rear wheels steering is a testament to their engineering.

It's fair to say that the original Panamera wasn't precisely a looker. But this one is a better, the four-door 911 we always wanted. The Turbo is not cheap, but in this company, that's hardly an issue. With options like carbon ceramic brakes, the M6 Gran Coupe is easily the most expensive BMW, and Mercedes has never made a cheap car in its life, least of all an S63.

I know you guys don't care about the comfort aspect, but it is important for the "captains of industry" who can afford to buy these German luxury rockets. Neither of the three is disappointing, but the beautifully sketched picture of a penguin is supposed to show that the Panamera is king. The gearbox is slick as well; it's a new 8-speed PDK with lightning shifts, which you'll need to keep the downsized V8 on the revs.