Porsche powers up Panamera

PORSCHE has increased the performance – but not fuel consumption – of its already ballistic Panamera Turbo by announcing a new ‘Powerkit’ option that will become available alongside a new Sport Design Package for all Panamera models in Australia later this year.

Thanks to new turbochargers with titanium-alloy turbine wheels and a revised engine management system, the Panamera Turbo Powerkit increases peak power output from 368kW to about 400kW and maximum torque from 700Nm to 750Nm, with up to 800Nm available on overboost mode when the Sport Chrono option box is also ticked.

Apart from improving the responsiveness of the Panamera Turbo’s 4.8-litre twin-turbo V8, Porsche says the Powerkit lowers the flagship four-door’s 0-100km/h acceleration time by a tenth of a second to 3.9 seconds, while top speed increases by 2km/h to 305km/h.

Despite the increased engine performance and flexibility – not to mention bragging rights – Porsche says the Powerkit does not affect average fuel consumption, which officially remains at a relatively frugal 11.5L/100km.

The Powerkit will be available as a factory-fitted Porsche Exclusive option in Europe from September, priced at €16,695,70 (which equates to about $A23,755 – the same price as a Mazda3 Maxx), or as a retro-fitted Porsche Tequipment option in Europe from November.

Porsche Cars Australia has confirmed the Powerkit will become available locally both ex-factory and as a dealer-fit option, but is yet to announce local pricing or availability timing.

Same goes for the new Sport Design Package and other new options for the entire Panamera range – including last month’s new V6-powered Panamera and Panamera 4 variants, which now account for more than a quarter of Panamera sales in the UK – as well as the new Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus option for V8 models, all of which were also announced in Europe yesterday.

Available from October in Europe, the Panamera’s Sport Design Package comprises a new front bumper with wider black air intake grilles, revised side skirts and a body-coloured rear underbody apron with diffuser and fins. Like the Turbo Powerkit, the Sport Design bodykit will be available as both a dealer-fit or factory-fit option (the latter priced at about $A6500 in Europe).

Further new Panamera options will include new multi-spoke 20-inch Panamera Sport alloy wheels measuring 9.5 inches wide up front and 11.5 inches wide at rear. The bigger new wheels will be available in GT silver metallic and black colours for retro-fitting from Porsche Tequipment, as well as in co-ordinated body colour options from Porsche Exclusive (priced at $A3875 in Europe, or $A1825 for Turbo models).

Finally, a new three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles is now an option for PDK dual-clutch automatic models in Europe for about $A475, while for about $A5400 European buyers of V8-engined Panamera models can also now specify Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) as an option together with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and a rear differential lock.

Porsche says the Panamera’s new PTV Plus system optimises steering behaviour by intervening in the braking of the inner rear wheel in corners to generate additional rotational force acting in the same direction as the steering wheel. It claims the result is even more direct and dynamic steering response when cornering, plus improved traction out of bends.

Globally, Porsche has exceeded its sales expectations for the Panamera by selling more than 23,000 examples of the all-new four-seater four-door grand touring hatchback, including 105 since last September in Australia, where a 3.5 per cent price increase was announced from August 1 as part of a minor technical upgrade for MY2011 versions.

Next year Porsche will release hybrid and diesel versions of the Panamera primarily aimed at the US and European markets respectively, while two-door coupe and convertible versions of the Panamera are also expected to eventually appear.