The
way it gets a move on is simply brisk and effortless; 100km/h coming up in a
quick 6.7 seconds with Porsche claiming a top speed of 244 km/h. moving through
traffic is no problem at all with the Panamera Diesel taking no time to gather
speed, past any moving roadblocks that come your way. Taking corners is something
to experience, because again the Panamera makes you believe it isn’t half the
weight it actually is, and any anxious input from your driving, whether cornering
or shedding speed, is dismissed like a butler leaving the room to dispose of an
empty champagne bottle; simply going about the job with absolutely no drama or
hindsight. This gives you the confidence to throw it into a corner and then
enjoy your way through it all, knowing full well it is well within the capacity
to collect itself and not spill off. That reassuring feeling comes thanks to
the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), which our car was
equipped with. While we had the standard brake setup, you can opt for the Porsche
Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) if you want even greater, eye-popping stopping
power. Another big boon is the bending headlamp function, which, on a dark night
with no streetlights around, provides appreciable illumination just where you
need it; especially when going around tight corners. One issue, though, is rear
visibility. The wing mirrors are tiny for a car of its size, and while Porsche
have worked on bettering the view out the rear window, the inside mirror doesn’t
really offer much of a view of goings-on behind the car either.
Rear seat
experience is just as good as the front: space, comfort and luxuries
The
steering feels a bit firm the first time you take a spin, but as you drive
along, it becomes perfectly clear how well it has been tuned. The response is
truly fantastic for a near two-tonne car and there is no intrusive feedback
whatsoever. Even parking and turning around is surprisingly easy. The way it
manages to redirect itself 180 degrees with a two-point turn is simply astounding
and creditable. The absence of any buttons and controls is, frankly, a welcome
change, and the tall shift paddles can let you take over shifting responsibilities
when more fun is called for. With eight ratios to play around with, shifting up
or down a ratio only brings about a drop or rise of 500 revs. There is a noticeable
engine braking effect, but it isn’t pronounced. Whichever way you want to go
about saying it, the Panamera is quick, no doubt about that!
Your key
is your car, as always, and you can have it in your pocket at all times
Being
quick is one thing for a grand tourer, but another key element is fuel economy.
Just how efficient is it? Our tests revealed a city figure of 8.0 km/l to the
litre and 12 on the highway. An overall 9.0km/l paired to the big 80-litre tank
translates to a range of 720 kilometres before the tank runs dry. The new
engine is expected to be just as efficient, but until it arrives, Porsche have
chosen to not deny diesel-seekers the new Panamera. Thus, efficiency, technology
and style are where the game has been raised with the new car. Porsche India have
stated that the new diesel engine will be available early in 2014, so for those
who get their cheque-books out now, you’re set to receive 50 more horses and
100 more twists.
The
Panamera, then, makes a strong case for itself. At $199,343 (ex-showroom, Maharashtra),
it makes a lot of sense for those who seek the performance of a sports luxury
car without sacrificing on the essential luxury bits, and who want to be up
front where all the action is. The Panamera has no equal there, at least, not
in this price range. Then there’s the badge. Is it a diesel 911 with twice as
many doors and twice as many seats? Maybe. Is it a proper Porsche? You bet!
Adaptive
LED headlamps effective, but optional
