Subtle changes boost cache

WHEN the Porsche Panamera was first launched four years ago, there were many rather negative comments regarding its styling and I happen to be one of those who thought the design did not quite gel well.

On the other hand, it has appealed to a large number of buyers, with more than 100,000 units sold worldwide to date.

Now the second generation has arrived and on release in Munich 10 models were announced, of which only six will find their way to SA: the Diesel, the 4 and 4S, the S Hybrid, the GTS and the Turbo.

New to the range are the Executive models, available as the 4S Executive or Turbo Executive, both featuring a lengthened wheelbase of up to 150mm. However, these will be built only in left-hand drive so will not be available for our market.

At the launch Porsche design vice-president Michael Mauer pointed out the most significant changes to the body styling: the headlights are reshaped with the option of LED lights that run deeper into the front bumper.

The bumper itself has larger and revised air intakes, giving the vehicle a wider, lower stance. The side profile features sharper lines while the side sills have a much slimmer design.

The bonnet’s power bulge also has a sharper look while the rear receives new tail lights, sportier tail pipes and a relocated number-plate mounting.

The differences are clear when seen alongside the original design but do not change the overall look, particularly that rather large rear end. The new generation is all about increased power and efficiency rather than a radically different look.

Climb inside any of the range and you enter a bespoke cockpit with plenty of switchgear extending from the roof and down onto both sides of the centre console. These may initially deter many, but it is quite intuitive and it takes just a few minutes to acclimatise to the layout.

Rear passenger space, both headroom and legroom, is good and, unlike many of the Gran Turismo designs on the market, this is truly a comfortable four-seat high-speed tourer.

Perhaps the two most significant advances are the all-new V6 3.0l Bi-Turbo petrol engine and the first luxury plug-in hybrid.

I drove the 4S, the S E-Hybrid, and the GTS. The 4S is the first to receive the new V6 Bi-Turbo engine, which replaces the previous model’s 4.8l V8, all the while gaining an extra 15kW and 20Nm. Fuel consumption is said to have been improved by as much as 18% over the outgoing engine.

The GTS, much like its predecessor, still uses that normally aspirated 4.8l V8 engine to push out 324kW at 6,700r/min and 520Nm at 3,500 r/min via a seven-speed PDK transmission.

The S E-Hybrid has a supercharged 3l V6 engine and an electric motor to produce a combined power output of 306kW at 5,500r/min and 590Nm from as low as 1,250r/min.

Power goes to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, replete with paddles behind the steering wheel for manual gear changes.

A fascinating aspect of improving the performance and efficiency is the new advanced control system for the PDK transmission. The conventional PDK has seven gears and this is supplemented by virtual intermediate gears provided by a very clever system.

The concept is to reduce engine revolutions at speeds of up to 80km/h: if changing up to the next gear would mean the revs would drop below the engine’s lower limit, the transmission control unit engages adjacent gears.

The control uses a defined amount of slip on the clutches to provide the perfect ratio. Wear is a relatively low factor as the clutches are oil-bath type. This system is used on all Gran Turismo cars with the PDK transmission, with the exception of the GTS and the E-Hybrid. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.