German luxury carmaker Porsche has officially unveiled the 2017 Porsche Panamera early this month and it is a stunner in every sense of the word.
While the brand has been around for close to eight years already, the 2017 Porsche Panamera has undergone a complete makeover compared to the sporty four-door coupe that the German carmaker introduced back in 2009, reports The Car Guide.
As the first major upgrade to the brand, nothing has been left untouched that it looked like a different vehicle altogether already, most critics note.
Notable among the changes is the new body structure which utilizes aluminum materials extensively. Such focus on aluminum has become the norm in modern cars today in order to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle and also contribute to its better aerodynamic features.
Although the 2017 Porsche Panamera appears larger than the original model, its weight of 2,000 kilograms practically approximates the 2009 model, indicating the weight reduction despite being larger in all dimensions.
Two powerful engine variants
The 2017 Porsche Panamera shall come in two engine variants. The first one is the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 440 horsepower of maximum power and 406 pound-feet of maximum torque.
Based on European test cycle, the 2017 Panamera has a fuel efficiency rating of 100 kilometers for 8.1 liters of fuel.
The other more powerful engine variant is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in Turbo which generates maximum power of 550 horsepower and maximum torque of 568 pound-feet.
Both variants of the 2017 Porsche Panamera shall have an eight-speed PDK gearbox and both models shall also be all-wheel-drive vehicles. Rear-wheel steering will be made available as an option to buyers who prefer to have such feature on their car.
There is also a variant of the V8 engine that shall be made available in other international markets. It is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 diesel engine that exudes 422 horsepower of maximum power and 627 pound-feet of maximum torque.
Best of all on the 2017 Porsche Panamera is the slew of electronic and connectivity features that have also become the norm in today’s modern vehicles and also in the near future.
Capability to control its weight
Those motoring enthusiasts who have been able to test drive the 2017 Porsche Panamera, particularly the V8 variant, are saying that the vehicle can control its weight very well. It can actually carve into the asphalt while the plethora of available systems pulls the car around the corner, details Automobile.
Power oversteer on corner exit is not only possible with the 2017 Panamera but has become enjoyable and easy to catch as well. There is also an understeer which often emerges when the vehicle is pushed hard. But such is quite normal for an all-wheel-drive vehicle and its engine located over the front axle.
The addition of technology on the vehicle and a performance that astounds, the 2017 Porsche Panamera is indeed an exciting proposition for any driver who is worth his or her salt.
Technological achievements on its cars have always been the trademark of Porsche. It is known in the international motoring industry as an automaker that always impresses when it comes to the level of technology it uses in its cars.
In terms of exterior, one of the new Panamera’s standout features is the three-piece extending spoiler affixed to the rear of the car. Looking elegant as it raises from the recess in the trunk lid, it offers function as well as form.
The rear spoiler has three set points positioned according to driving conditions. At low speeds, the spoiler is unnecessary and stays in its recess. At cruising speeds of up to 125 mph, the spoiler deploys in true transformer fashion, reducing drag at the rear of the car.