Porsche extends Panamera line-up

Porsche has added six new models to the second-generation Panamera line-up - but not all are slated for Australia - as production of the five door liftback is ramped up at the company's Leipzig plant in Germany following its introduction earlier this year.  

The new Panamera models are planned to make their public premiere at next week's Los Angeles motor show prior to a planned start to Australian deliveries in the first quarter of 2017.

Included is a pair of price leading models in the form of the rear-wheel drive Panamera and all-wheel drive Panamera 4. These two models bring Porsche's local line-up to six variants, joining the currently offered Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, 4S, 4S Diesel and Turbo.

Overseas they are joined by a quartet of long wheelbase four-wheel drive models in the Panamera 4 Executive, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4S Executive and Panamera Turbo Executive, however, Porsche has stated these models will not be made available locally.

The rear-wheel drive Panamera and four-wheel drive Panamera 4 are powered by Porsche's latest twin scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. Shared with the Audi S4, S5 Coupe and S5 Sportback, it produces 15kW more than the older naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6 engine it replaces at 243kW. They will be priced from $210,000 plus on-road cost for the standard Panamera and $220,400 for the Panamera 4, with the models arriving in the second quarter and third quarter respectively.

The Panamera 4 also brings with it a long list of standard gear including adaptive cruise control, adaptive air suspension, four zone air conditioning, LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, front and rear park assist, surround view camera, electrically adjustable seats, Porsche's infotainment system, digital radio and Apple's CarPlay.

However, local customers will miss out on Porsche's rear seat entertainment package with includes two removable 10.1-inch tablet style monitors set within the backrests of the front seats.

The new V6, which forms part of a new range of units developed in an engineering joint venture between Porsche and Audi, is claimed to provide fuel savings of up to 1.0L/100km over its predecessor, although official consumption figures are yet to be revealed.

The new V6 petrol engine is also offered in the not-for-Australia long-wheelbase Panamera 4 Executive, which receives a 150mm longer wheelbase than existing Panamera models. Further up the range is the similar sized Panamera 4S Executive running a more highly tuned twin- turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 with 324kW and the Panamera Turbo Executive fitted with a 404kW twin turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine.

Also available is the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive. It runs Porsche's twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine in combination with an electric motor mounted in the front of the new Porsche's standard eight-speed automatic gearbox for an overall output of 340kW.

All Australian Panamera models are now available for order, with the first vehicles arriving in the first quarter of 2017.

Porsche Panamera Australian models, arrival dates and prices*

Panamera                        $210,000                Q2 2017

Panamera 4                     $220,400                Q3 2017

Panamera 4 E-Hybrid      $242,600                Q3 2017

Panamera 4S                  $304,200                Q1 2017

Panamera 4S Diesel        $312,100                Q2 2017

Panamera Turbo              $376,900                Q1 2017

*All prices exclude on-road costs

• To get the latest information, visit our Porsche showroom.