The Panamera has always been a bit of an outcast. Porsche has many beautiful, sporty car models, but the Panamera has always trailed a little. The car was supposed to broaden Porsche’s market offer when it was released in 2009. The 911 is a true sports car that lacked and continues to lack some comfort features. The 2017 Porsche Panamera was designed to strike a balance between the 911’s sports features and comfort and luxury features.
Despite the Panamera‘s obvious and well-known Porsche design cues, the entire package failed to impress the public. Porsche completely redesigned the interior and exterior of the car for the 2017 model year. The changes are easily visible in both areas. In addition, because of the new platform, Porsche had more design freedom and decided to take advantage of it. As a result, the public’s reaction to the unveiling of the 2017 Porsche Panamera was unanimously positive. It appears that the ugly duckling has transformed into a lovely swan.
There are also new drivetrain options, including a plug-in hybrid, which will be available in 2018. If this doesn’t pique your interest in seeing this car, we don’t know what will.
Exterior design
The first game-changing feature is already visible at the front of the car. The nose of the 2017 Porsche Panamera has been lowered, and the hood has been lengthened. This gives the car a more sporty appearance and pays homage to the highly successful and iconic Porsche 911. The grille and lower fascia have also been updated, and the front turn signals have been replaced with LEDs.
The most noticeable change on the side is the front door. The creases are deeper this time, and they flow nicely into the front fender vent. The crease on the lower side is now an individual line, making the total crease count three, rather than two on the previous Panamera. By the way, the air vent is also deeper.
The shape of the side windows is another distinction. Whereas the previous Panamera had a high tip, the new Panamera has a lower tip.
The new rear of the car is what the public liked the most, or disliked the most about the predecessor’s rear. The former flowed down in a steep curve, whereas the new rear has a real edge and then drops more vertically. The taillights and bumper have been restyled to match the rear exterior of the Porsche 911, resulting in a much more defined rear.
Finally, there are 15 exterior colors and ten different wheel sets to choose from.
Interior design
The interior features a new leather steering wheel with gesture controls. The interior can be outfitted with partially leather seats in three different colors. There are ten color options for the full leather interior, five of which are two-tone. There are numerous interior customization options available, including a variety of wood tones for the dashboard and door panel inserts.
Furthermore, the doors now have more storage space, and the center console has a storage compartment as well. The gauges are still analog, which is an older/retro interior detail. Touch sensitive buttons surround the gear shifter, which has been slimmed down and made more elegant. The infotainment screen is a larger 12 inch touch screen than the previous one. The surrounding air vents are still there, but they are nearly invisible now.
The standard sound system is a Hi-Fi system with 10 loudspeakers and a power output of 150 watts. A 710 Watts BOSE Surround Sound System with 14 loudspeakers or a 1455 Watts Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound System with 21 loudspeakers are available as options.
Optional features include ambient lighting with seven color schemes, as well as heated and ventilated seats. Massage seats for the front and rear passengers are also available as an option.
Engine specs
Now, let’s talk about the powertrains! Because the old engines couldn’t be used on the new platform, Porsche had to design some new ones. The 2017 Porsche Panamera 4 trim is the base, which comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (330 hp) and the 4S a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 (440 hp). The Panamera Turbo is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 550 horsepower. The European 4S will also be available with a 422 horsepower diesel engine.
Finally, there’s the Panamera 4 E-hybrid, which combines a 330 HP V6 engine with a 136 HP electric motor. This brings the hybrid’s total HP to 462.
All engines will be equipped with an automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive.
Tech specs
The 2017 Porsche Panamera performs admirably in terms of technology. ParkAssist (front and rear) with visual and audible warning, cruise control, and Keyless Drive are standard tech features.
The new Porsche Connect infotainment package is the car’s main technological feature. This is a first for the 2017 Porsche Panamera and will be standard on all future Porsche models. Porsche Connect keeps the driver in constant communication with the vehicle and improves functions such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
HomeLink garage door opener, Night Vision Assist, Lane Changing Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control are among the optional tech features. There’s also Park Assist with a rear view or 360-degree camera.
Price and sale date
The 2017 Porsche Panamera will be available in US dealerships on November 5, 2016. Prices for the Panamera start at $85,000 for the base model, $89,600 for the Panamera 4, and $99,900 for the Panamera 4S. The Turbo is priced at $146,900.
European prices for the Panamera 4S start at €113.027. The Panamera Turbo starts at €153.011.