The Porsche Panamera's second coming
04 Apr 2017|32,394 views
When the Porsche Panamera was first unveiled in 2009 and subsequently hit markets in 2010, it created a storm of controversy. In many ways, it was a car that was doing things all wrong. It was a driver's car in a segment that prioritised passengers; purists complained that it was a big saloon car falsely masquerading as a sports car 911-wannabe, and its stretched out proportions and swollen backside didn't help either.
As a result, the Panamera became a car that was easy to make fun of (especially with its less-than-pleasing aesthetics), with some turning up their noses at it and calling it a 'fake Porsche'. It even had a strange name - the Porsche Tanah Merah anyone?
And yet, defiant in the face of opposition, the Panamera proved its critics wrong. It was widely praised for its excellent driving dynamics, indelible blend of performance and luxury, and has become a standard bearer in the grand tourer car segment. And the sales figures of the Panamera speak for themselves - more than 150,000 units sold worldwide, and 600 units sold in Singapore since its induction.
Seven years on, Porsche brings us the brand new second generation Panamera. With its competitors upping their game to match Stuggart's Jekyll and Hyde offering, the new Panamera now faces a different kind of competition. Where it used to have to compete with people's consciousness, it now faces actual, real competition.
I've been dispatched to Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan, to drive the new breed and participate in something Porsche is calling the 'Two Trails'. The drive is designed to showcase how the second generation Gran Turismo (GT) reconciles the two contrasting characteristics of luxury and performance. Time to find out if this second coming will change the way we look at the Porsche Panamera.
First and foremost, as a GT, the Panamera is about covering long distances in luxurious comfort. And as you would expect, the new Panamera does not disappoint. It is comfortable and easy to drive, with predictable steering and a supple ride. It may not waft over roads like a Bentley, but in some ways it shouldn't. This is a Porsche after all - sportiness is integral to its DNA.
Select the softest setting on the three-chamber air suspension and the Panamera drives with a serenity that matches my surroundings. It allows you to take in the breathtaking views of Sun Moon Lake while cruising along with effortless ease. When optioned with Adaptive Cruise Control, highway driving is made even more effortless.
The car's tranquillity will also certainly appease its passengers. The cabin is premium, lush and extremely quiet. Even when driven rapidly on the highway, the Panamera's engine emits a barely discernible gurgle. This luxury trail also takes us to the picturesque Chi Nan University - the lush greenery and misty mountains in the background form a picture perfect canvas on which the Panamera sits.
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Can a four-door luxury saloon really also be a sports car? Well, apparently it can. Switch to Sport or Sport Plus mode and you can unleash the Panamera's dormant Mr. Hyde. The suspension stiffens, throttle response sharpens, the ride height lowers, the steering becomes more meaty, and the car offers you a wholly different experience.
On the switchback mountain roads that ring Sun Moon Lake, littered with tight hairpins and narrow roads, the Panamera proved to be alert and lively, while being sharp and deft in corners. The road-holding of the Panamera is certainly impressive.
Yes, it is no 911, but it's not a million miles off, either. You get great traction into and out of corners, the balance of the car is hard to upset, and the engines (I drove both the base model and the 4S) are lovely pieces of kit. The sports car experience is convincing (helped by the fact that there is a Porsche badge smiling at you from the steering wheel).
The Mysterious Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
You could perhaps nominally credit the first generation Panamera for the rising trend of being the best of both worlds - perfectly luxurious, and perfectly sporty. And for the sake of marketing campaigns, that's understandable. But more often than not, this is never really the case. Generally, we tend to think of luxury and sporty performance as two mutually exclusive qualities. There is a certain logical consistency to this after all - a stiffer suspension setup will certainly give you better handling, but that comes at the cost of ride comfort. You could then broadly apply this logic to most aspects of any car.
However, I have to say that something about the new Panamera doesn't sit right with me. No doubt, the car is better looking, has better technology, more power, better handling, and in every tangible way, is a much improved and more accomplished car than its predecessor. Our upcoming first drive stories will delve into deeper technical details and whats new on the second generation Panamera (both the base model and the 4S).
Can something be so right it feels wrong?
Therein lies a small problem. The original Panamera had a rebellious streak to it. It was defiantly ugly, and had a bold, obstinate character about it. It embraced its queer oddity, and I liked that about it. It was that kid in school who sat defiantly at the back, who didn't want any of your adoration or concern, and then would smack you over the head with his absolute genius. I admired that about the old Panamera - it was so wrong that it felt right. It was a gigantic middle finger on four wheels.
The new car feels too… correct. It feels like that kid has finally ditched his goth clothing and bright red mohwak, and decided to fall in line. Make no mistake about it - the new Panamera is a better car in every measurable way. But it's brilliance is now predictable, and expected. It has lost a kind of spunk, its ability to shock and surprise you. It feels all grown up, and in doing so has lost a little of its defining weirdness.
Unlike when the first Panamera was launched, this new model comes amidst zero controversy. Much like how the brand managed to fly in the face of convention by making a seminal sports car with the engine hanging out (supposedly wrongly) behind the rear axle, Porsche has taken its 'all-wrong' luxury GT formula, shed its quirky skin and turned it up to 11, and made it irreproachably right. This is no longer a car you will make fun of. I just wish it was still a little bit weird.
When the Porsche Panamera was first unveiled in 2009 and subsequently hit markets in 2010, it created a storm of controversy. In many ways, it was a car that was doing things all wrong. It was a driver's car in a segment that prioritised passengers; purists complained that it was a big saloon car falsely masquerading as a sports car 911-wannabe, and its stretched out proportions and swollen backside didn't help either.
So wrong that it feels right
As a result, the Panamera became a car that was easy to make fun of (especially with its less-than-pleasing aesthetics), with some turning up their noses at it and calling it a 'fake Porsche'. It even had a strange name - the Porsche Tanah Merah anyone?
And yet, defiant in the face of opposition, the Panamera proved its critics wrong. It was widely praised for its excellent driving dynamics, indelible blend of performance and luxury, and has become a standard bearer in the grand tourer car segment. And the sales figures of the Panamera speak for themselves - more than 150,000 units sold worldwide, and 600 units sold in Singapore since its induction.
Seven years on, Porsche brings us the brand new second generation Panamera. With its competitors upping their game to match Stuggart's Jekyll and Hyde offering, the new Panamera now faces a different kind of competition. Where it used to have to compete with people's consciousness, it now faces actual, real competition.
I've been dispatched to Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan, to drive the new breed and participate in something Porsche is calling the 'Two Trails'. The drive is designed to showcase how the second generation Gran Turismo (GT) reconciles the two contrasting characteristics of luxury and performance. Time to find out if this second coming will change the way we look at the Porsche Panamera.
Luxury Trail
First and foremost, as a GT, the Panamera is about covering long distances in luxurious comfort. And as you would expect, the new Panamera does not disappoint. It is comfortable and easy to drive, with predictable steering and a supple ride. It may not waft over roads like a Bentley, but in some ways it shouldn't. This is a Porsche after all - sportiness is integral to its DNA.
Select the softest setting on the three-chamber air suspension and the Panamera drives with a serenity that matches my surroundings. It allows you to take in the breathtaking views of Sun Moon Lake while cruising along with effortless ease. When optioned with Adaptive Cruise Control, highway driving is made even more effortless.
The car's tranquillity will also certainly appease its passengers. The cabin is premium, lush and extremely quiet. Even when driven rapidly on the highway, the Panamera's engine emits a barely discernible gurgle. This luxury trail also takes us to the picturesque Chi Nan University - the lush greenery and misty mountains in the background form a picture perfect canvas on which the Panamera sits.
Performance Trail
On the switchback mountain roads that ring Sun Moon Lake, littered with tight hairpins and narrow roads, the Panamera proved to be alert and lively, while being sharp and deft in corners. The road-holding of the Panamera is certainly impressive.
Yes, it is no 911, but it's not a million miles off, either. You get great traction into and out of corners, the balance of the car is hard to upset, and the engines (I drove both the base model and the 4S) are lovely pieces of kit. The sports car experience is convincing (helped by the fact that there is a Porsche badge smiling at you from the steering wheel).
The Mysterious Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
You could perhaps nominally credit the first generation Panamera for the rising trend of being the best of both worlds - perfectly luxurious, and perfectly sporty. And for the sake of marketing campaigns, that's understandable. But more often than not, this is never really the case. Generally, we tend to think of luxury and sporty performance as two mutually exclusive qualities. There is a certain logical consistency to this after all - a stiffer suspension setup will certainly give you better handling, but that comes at the cost of ride comfort. You could then broadly apply this logic to most aspects of any car.
However, I have to say that something about the new Panamera doesn't sit right with me. No doubt, the car is better looking, has better technology, more power, better handling, and in every tangible way, is a much improved and more accomplished car than its predecessor. Our upcoming first drive stories will delve into deeper technical details and whats new on the second generation Panamera (both the base model and the 4S).
Can something be so right it feels wrong?
Therein lies a small problem. The original Panamera had a rebellious streak to it. It was defiantly ugly, and had a bold, obstinate character about it. It embraced its queer oddity, and I liked that about it. It was that kid in school who sat defiantly at the back, who didn't want any of your adoration or concern, and then would smack you over the head with his absolute genius. I admired that about the old Panamera - it was so wrong that it felt right. It was a gigantic middle finger on four wheels.
The new car feels too… correct. It feels like that kid has finally ditched his goth clothing and bright red mohwak, and decided to fall in line. Make no mistake about it - the new Panamera is a better car in every measurable way. But it's brilliance is now predictable, and expected. It has lost a kind of spunk, its ability to shock and surprise you. It feels all grown up, and in doing so has lost a little of its defining weirdness.
Unlike when the first Panamera was launched, this new model comes amidst zero controversy. Much like how the brand managed to fly in the face of convention by making a seminal sports car with the engine hanging out (supposedly wrongly) behind the rear axle, Porsche has taken its 'all-wrong' luxury GT formula, shed its quirky skin and turned it up to 11, and made it irreproachably right. This is no longer a car you will make fun of. I just wish it was still a little bit weird.
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