Riding in the Panamera


Passenger rides by company test drivers, around the company's test track in the company's latest model is not the last word in critical assessment, but it does give you a taste of what to expect. So with a Panamera 4S and Turbo we ventured on to the hallowed tarmac of Weissach four up in a Porsche saloon.

First up the 4S. And from the rear seat it's refreshing to be able to see where you are going when the pilot has been told by his bosses to demonstrate the latest product to a bunch of seen-it-all-before hacks. The 4S is quick, think 911 Carrera but with a more linear power delivery. From our seat the pace feels unnatural for a car of this size but there appears to be no complaint from either the driver or the car. We're in comfort mode for the first lap and over the dips, crests and creative cambers of Porsche's test track it's a remarkably controlled display of a car behaving like it has no right too. In Sport Plus mode the Panamera's chassis moves around in the quicker curves but it all feels smooth and controlled.

Step into the Turbo and the real technical achievements of the Panamera begin to shine. The speed it gains and then carries around Weissach is barely comprehensible. We went round here last year in Gen-two Carreras and this feels just as controlled and looks equally rewarding for the driver. There's a degree of slip as 500hp gets carried away but it never feels like anything but controlled aggression. If the rumours are to be believed, Herr Rohrl has lapped this thing around the 'Ring in around eight minutes. And on this demonstration there is little to evidence to think otherwise.



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