What We Like
Handsome
Comfortable, high-tech and premium cabin
Smooth and rev-happy V6 engine
Tight and measured handling
What We Dislike
There are faster and louder variants
Expensive options
We've driven the brand new second generation Porsche Panamera up in Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan, and came away highly amazed. The car has finally reached Singapore shores, so we take it out for a spin for some deeper impressions and to find out how well it works on our local roads.
Deeper impressions
Let's get right to the point - the new Porsche Panamera is a deeply impressive car. Its aesthetic appeal is much improved (it's been purposefully designed to echo the 911), while still retaining its recognisable Grand Tourer (GT) look.
The interior is a sleek combination of futuristic technology and plush comfort. Your passengers will no doubt be left amazed (and slightly stunned) by the technological complexity of the cabin. For example, the centre vent is controlled remotely using the touch screen, there are technically fewer buttons on the centre console than on the steering wheel, and in our test car, the rear passengers also get a touchscreen at the rear from which they can change the radio station, adjust their own air-conditioning, as well as monitor the driver's progress on the sat nav.
The Panamera is also really spacious, especially so at the back. There's tons of leg room for two at the rear, whilst the extensive choice of air-con and ambient light settings create a lounge-like atmosphere.
A measured drive
Where the new Panamera has really made strides is in the way it drives. Whilst the numbers won't blow you away (326bhp and 450Nm of torque from the 3.0-litre V6 engine), it's a smooth and entirely usable unit for daily driving.
The engine and new eight-speed PDK gearbox also seem to have been tuned to better simulate a naturally-aspirated engine. This means that chasing the redline becomes a worthwhile endeavour (it usually isn't in a turbocharged car). Also, there is a tactile sitffness to the throttle peddle that makes working the engine purposeful and joyous. However, the downside is that the Panamera lacks the surge of torque at low revs that you might get from say, the new BMW 540i.
To be honest, the car feels quite wide on our locals roads. On normal roads or on the highway, the view out of the side view mirrors don't exactly do much to disguise the car's size - the muscular rear wheel arches dominate your vision and reach precariously close to the lane markings.
Deeper impressions
Let's get right to the point - the new Porsche Panamera is a deeply impressive car. Its aesthetic appeal is much improved (it's been purposefully designed to echo the 911), while still retaining its recognisable Grand Tourer (GT) look.
The interior is a sleek combination of futuristic technology and plush comfort. Your passengers will no doubt be left amazed (and slightly stunned) by the technological complexity of the cabin. For example, the centre vent is controlled remotely using the touch screen, there are technically fewer buttons on the centre console than on the steering wheel, and in our test car, the rear passengers also get a touchscreen at the rear from which they can change the radio station, adjust their own air-conditioning, as well as monitor the driver's progress on the sat nav.
The Panamera is also really spacious, especially so at the back. There's tons of leg room for two at the rear, whilst the extensive choice of air-con and ambient light settings create a lounge-like atmosphere.
A measured drive
Where the new Panamera has really made strides is in the way it drives. Whilst the numbers won't blow you away (326bhp and 450Nm of torque from the 3.0-litre V6 engine), it's a smooth and entirely usable unit for daily driving.
The engine and new eight-speed PDK gearbox also seem to have been tuned to better simulate a naturally-aspirated engine. This means that chasing the redline becomes a worthwhile endeavour (it usually isn't in a turbocharged car). Also, there is a tactile sitffness to the throttle peddle that makes working the engine purposeful and joyous. However, the downside is that the Panamera lacks the surge of torque at low revs that you might get from say, the new BMW 540i.
To be honest, the car feels quite wide on our locals roads. On normal roads or on the highway, the view out of the side view mirrors don't exactly do much to disguise the car's size - the muscular rear wheel arches dominate your vision and reach precariously close to the lane markings.
The Panamera may also be slightly ungainly in tight spots - this particular driver drives with the seat set in the lowest position, and that certainly compromises vision a tad. Negotiating the tight corners and ramps in the notoriously narrow The Cathay carpark proved to be quite challenging, though not impossible.
Where the Panamera is definitely at home is out on the open roads. The handling is surprisingly nimble, and the car feels tight and flat through corners. The Panamera sends all its power to the rear wheels, but to be honest we never found ourselves worried about a lack of grip.
The ride is planted yet forgiving - even on the big 21-inch shoes that our test car came shod with, the ride is pleasingly pliant, helped by the air suspension system. It's not soft like a Merc, but for a car with the sporting pedigree that the Porsche name bestows (and the sporty handling to justify that badge), the comfort level in the Panamera is certainly high.
No faults to find
Driving the new Porsche Panamera in Singapore left us no less impressed than the first time we got acquainted with it. It's a thoroughly polished car that has desperately few faults. The only big complain you can make about the car is that the options list is littered with highly attractive but rather expensive goodies. And perhaps if you work in a building with a very narrow carpark, driving this car daily can be slightly unnerving.
The Porsche Panamera, even in this base-model guise, is a very accomplished car. Driven normally, it's comfortable, high-tech and is steeped in premium quality. On the roads, it's easy and unintimidating to drive. And when you are struck with the need for speed, the Panamera is surprisingly fun and enjoyable to push hard, even if it isn't mind-bendingly fast (there is the Panamera Turbo for that purpose).
Quite simply, the Porsche Panamera is just downright impressive.
Where the Panamera is definitely at home is out on the open roads. The handling is surprisingly nimble, and the car feels tight and flat through corners. The Panamera sends all its power to the rear wheels, but to be honest we never found ourselves worried about a lack of grip.
The ride is planted yet forgiving - even on the big 21-inch shoes that our test car came shod with, the ride is pleasingly pliant, helped by the air suspension system. It's not soft like a Merc, but for a car with the sporting pedigree that the Porsche name bestows (and the sporty handling to justify that badge), the comfort level in the Panamera is certainly high.
No faults to find
Driving the new Porsche Panamera in Singapore left us no less impressed than the first time we got acquainted with it. It's a thoroughly polished car that has desperately few faults. The only big complain you can make about the car is that the options list is littered with highly attractive but rather expensive goodies. And perhaps if you work in a building with a very narrow carpark, driving this car daily can be slightly unnerving.
The Porsche Panamera, even in this base-model guise, is a very accomplished car. Driven normally, it's comfortable, high-tech and is steeped in premium quality. On the roads, it's easy and unintimidating to drive. And when you are struck with the need for speed, the Panamera is surprisingly fun and enjoyable to push hard, even if it isn't mind-bendingly fast (there is the Panamera Turbo for that purpose).
Quite simply, the Porsche Panamera is just downright impressive.
