New 2021 Porsche Panamera Raises the Bar Once Again
Two weeks after setting a new official record in the “executive cars” class on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany, the redesigned and updated 2021 Porsche Panamera is celebrating its world premiere today.
Both performance enthusiasts and environmentally conscious drivers will find something to like. Here’s why…
- Also: The Car Guide’s 2020 Best Buys: Porsche Panamera
- Also: 10 Years of Porsche Panamera Celebrated with a Special Edition
All Hail the Turbo S
Porsche, which has won our Best Buy award in the full-size luxury car segment two years in a row, seems hell-bent on crushing the competition for good.
Featuring a thoroughly revised twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, the new Panamera Turbo S at the top of the range delivers 620 horsepower and 605 pound-feet of torque, up 70 and 37 from the outgoing Turbo model. In Sport Plus mode, it sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 315 km/h on a track.
Sporty GTS Cranked up Further
Porsche engineers have also paid special attention to the Panamera GTS. For 2021, this model gets 20 extra ponies for a total of 473, along with 457 pound-feet of torque. The traditional V8 sound characteristics are even more prominent than before thanks to the new standard sports exhaust system.
Meanwhile, the entry-level Panamera and Panamera 4 get a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 rated at 325 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque.
Enhanced Driving Dynamics
For each model, Porsche has specially configured and optimized the three-chamber air suspension, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and the roll stabilisation system Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport) including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus)—all in the name of maximizing handling and cornering performance.
Some of these systems have even been applied completely from scratch. For example, the revamped PASM results in a noticeable improvement in damping comfort, Porsche claims. Changes have been made to the steering system and tires, too.
New Hybrid Model
For 2021, the German automaker continues to pursue its E-Performance strategy with the addition of the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid offering a completely new drive system with 552 total horsepower. The eight-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission and standard Sport Chrono Package help the car accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 298 km/h.
In city driving, this Panamera is more efficient thanks to gross battery capacity that has been increased from 14.1 to 17.9 kWh using optimised cells. Moreover, the driving modes have been optimised for even more efficient energy use. All-electric range goes up from 23 to 30 kilometres, an improvement of 30 percent. It’s not a particularly long distance by any means, but remember that Porsche also sells the zero-emission Taycan now.
Refreshed Styling
All 2021 Porsche Panamera models, including the long-wheelbase Executive variants and Sport Turismo wagons, now come standard with the Sport Design package featuring striking air intake grilles, large side cooling openings and a single-bar front light module. The completely new front end of the Panamera Turbo S is differentiated by the larger side air intakes and newly designed elements in the exterior colour, which are connected horizontally and thus emphasise the width of the vehicle.
Porsche designers have also revised the light strip at the rear which now runs seamlessly over the liftgate with an adapted contour. It thus provides a continuous and flowing connection between the two newly designed LED taillight clusters. GTS models sport the new darkened Exclusive Design taillight clusters as standard. Finally, three new 20- and 21-inch wheel designs have been added to the wheel range for a total of 10.
How Much?
The new 2021 Porsche Panamera is available to order now and will be in Canadian dealerships in the first quarter of next year. Base prices for RWD models ($99,300) and AWD models ($104,600) remain unchanged. Ditto for the Panamera GTS ($147,400). The new Panamera 4S E-Hybrid and Panamera Turbo S start at $128,500 and $202,400, respectively.
