2021 Porsche Panamera boasts array of upgrades

MANILA:  The 2021 Porsche Panamera figures to be faster, handle better, and will look better inside and out with updates to the powertrain, chassis, and cabin equipment.

One of the biggest improvements is in the powertrain with changes to the crankshaft, connecting rods, timing chain drive, and torsional vibration dampers. It has been given new fuel injectors and has a reduced compression ratio to allow the uprated 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 to put out 620hp and 819Nm of torque. That’s 70hp and 50Nm more than the Panamera Turbo.

This pushes the new Panamera Turbo S sedan and Sport Turismo models from standstill to 100kph, using launch control, in 2.9 seconds (3.0 seconds for the Panamera Turbo S Executive), 0.5 seconds quicker than the previous Panamera Turbo models. All Panamera Turbo S models reach a top speed of 315kph.

The twin-turbo V8 in the Panamera GTS (473hp and 620Nm) benefits from a 20hp increase compared to the previous model, and its throttle calibration is tuned to resemble the responsiveness and finesse of a naturally aspirated engine even more closely.

Porsche is also expanding its hybrid offering with a new plug-in hybrid model for the Panamera model range, the 4S E-Hybrid. It has an electric motor paired with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that gives it a total output of 552hp and 750Nm of torque. It can reach 100kph in 3.5 seconds using launch control, and has a top speed of 298kph.

For the 2021 model year, all Panamera E-Hybrid models now feature a 27% larger hybrid battery capacity (up to 17.9kWh from 14.1kWh) as well as recalibrated drive modes. The standard Panamera models now feature a 2.9-liter twin-turbo engine making 325hp, replacing the previous 3.0-liter single-turbo unit.

The exterior of all Panamera models now feature the SportDesign front fascia (previously optional) as standard. Carbon fiber is optional and will only be available as an upgrade. A new continuous light strip spreads out across the rear of the car connecting the two tail lights, while the lower rear fascia sports new diffuser fins. A new 20-inch wheel design and two new 21-inch wheel designs are available.

On the GTS, the updated front and rear SportDesign fascia comes in Satin Black, along with the GTS-specific Satin Black 20-inch Panamera Design wheels and Exclusive Design tinted taillights, and black lettering and model designations. The Sport Exhaust System is standard on the GTS and has been designed to emphasize the notes of the V8 engine.

The new Turbo S variants are fitted with a model-specific front fascia that features larger air intakes and new Turbo S-specific front light signature.

Standard on every Panamera is the adjustable Porsche Active Suspension Management system featuring an updated calibration for its adaptive dampers for better ride quality.

Porsche has also put in a newly-designed multifunction Sport steering wheel covered in Race-Tex. The Turbo S comes standard with a new GT Sport steering wheel with shift paddles wrapped in leather, and is optional on other Panamera models.

Panamera and Panamera 4S E-Hybrid models come standard with eight-way electrically adjustable comfort seats with driver memory package, while the Turbo S models are equipped with 14-way electrically adjustable comfort seats with memory. Appropriate to its performance and enthusiast-focused nature, the Panamera GTS comes standard with 18-way electrically adjustable adaptive sport seats. Both the 14-way comfort seats and 18-way adaptive sport seats are optional on other Panamera models.

It still comes with the same 12.3-inch center touchscreen with online-navigation, real-time traffic information and a Wifi hotspot. The Panamera Turbo S is also fitted with a 14-speaker, 710-watt Bose Surround Sound System with separate subwoofer as standard (optional on other Panamera models), while a 21-speaker, 1,455-watt Burmester 3D High-End Surround System with an active 400-watt subwoofer can be optionally ordered for all variants.

For increased level of safety all 2021 Panamera models are now equipped with Lane Keep Assist including Traffic Sign Recognition. It uses a camera to detect divider line markings on the road and aids the driver to stay in lane by making corrective steering inputs (active at speeds above 40 mph). Traffic Sign Recognition also uses a camera and navigation data to detect road signs, and displays them in the instrument cluster.

Photos from Porsche

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