2017 Porsche Panamera new car review

Porsche executives must have very thick skin, because despite all the ugly-bashing its original Panamera received the German brand has simply refined the concept the second time around.

Other - let's say less confident companies - would have retreated, fired the designers and then had the bean counters crunch the numbers on a more conventional approach while placing the marketing team on the front line of defence. But not Porsche. It clearly believes in the swoopy four-door's style and position.

Personally, I didn't mind the way the original Panamera looked. Sure, it wasn't pretty, but nor was the Ferrari FF or Aston Martin Rapide, which are similar four-seat rivals from rival sportscar brands that wouldn't compromise their reputations on a traditional limousine.

The second-gen Panamera doesn't deviate too far from the formula even though it shares little more than a few nuts and bolts with its predecessor. In terms of overall dimensions, it is slightly longer and wider and rides on a larger footprint than before while the roofline features a heavier taper at the rear that lowers its height by a measly 5mm.

Under the sleek new skin, it features greater use of high-strength steel and aluminium in its construction to improve rigidity, handling and noise suppression while the air suspension has been revised to increase both levels of comfort and road holding and there is the option of four-wheel steering to make it more manoeuvrable around town and stable at high speeds.

There's also new engines - a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 offered in two states of tune and 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8s in either diesel or petrol configuration - as well as a world-first eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Porsche's latest infotainment and connectivity system in the cabin.

Like before, Porsche's flagship limousine will be offered across a wide model range that currently starts with the eponymous rear-drive Panamera at $210,000 (plus on-road costs) through to all-wheel drive, hybrid and diesel models to the range-topper Turbo that costs $376,900 (plus on-roads). There will be more variants to come, as well as a similar spread over a new wagon-esque body style that takes inspiration from the Sport Turismo concept.

For our preview drive through NSW's Hunter Valley, we tested the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo over a variety of conditions, from patchy country roads to bumpy, twisty hill climbs to smooth freeways.

Before we hit the road though, the Panamera made a positive first impression as the cabin has much more wow factor (right up there with a Mercedes-Benz S-Class) thanks to the large 12.3-inch touch screen mounted in the centre of the dash and the twin digital instrument displays that sit either side of the traditional centre-mounted tacho. All three can be configured in a myriad of ways to suit personal preferences, but it's the centre screen which offers a worm hole of functionality, from sat nav, audio, phone connections and vehicle settings. It even includes the electronic adjustment of the lower air vents.

The centre console is also nifty in that it has replaces the waterfall of cascading buttons from its predecessor with a clean, glossy panel that hides touch-sensitive haptic controls for some functions and nicely burled aluminium knobs for others such as the temperature and fan speed and audio volume.

More than just the techy stuff, the Panamera's cabin has a higher level of luxurious ambience with better-quality materials - from carbon fibre and aluminium highlights to sumptuous leathers - that befits its flagship status.

While it's a still a car that will be enjoyed from the driver's seat, there's enough space in the individual rear pews for two adults to travel comfortably with plenty of support, good legroom and the convenience of four-zone air conditioning. They can also control the audio volume and other functions from their own centre screen. There's a generous amount of space in the boot too.

As for how the Panamera drives, the 4S' 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is probably all the engine you'll ever need, with 324kW between 5650-6600rpm and 550Nm of pulling power on tap from just 1750rpm. It's a flexible engine that feels effortless just tootling around, with enough elasticity to move the Panamera's 1870kg mass without a fuss, all the while emitting a hushed exhaust note and consuming a claimed average of 8.1L/100km of premium unleaded. But it's also got plenty of grunt when you stand on it, bringing with it a more vocal tune and the ability to slingshot from 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds when fitted with the optional Sport Plus function that includes a full launch control system.

For those that simply need more (and have the cash), the Panamera Turbo is on another level. It's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 generates 404kW and 770Nm, which gives it genuine supercar levels of performance; it can cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds and tops out over 300km/h. But with clever cylinder deactivation, start stop and a coasting mode it consumes little more than V6 with a claimed average of 9.3L/100km when driven gently.

On the road, it purrs along at highway speeds, the jewel-like tacho needle barely ticking over 1000rpm as the eight-speed automatic intuitively does its own thing. But kick it in the guts and it pours on pace as if the horizon was being pulled towards you in double time. It also produces a nicer, guttural V8 exhaust note the higher it spins towards its 6500rpm rev ceiling. And its rear wing performs a theatrical dance as it unfurls at higher speeds.

Both variants are more than just straight-line weapons, and hang on to the road with the kind of grip you'd expect from a Porsche - even one that weighs close to two tonnes. The steering isn't quite as tactile as a 911 or a 718 Cayman, but it relays most of what the oversized (and optional) 21-inch tyres were doing on the road back to the driver. The four-wheel steering - which uses a steering rack on the rear for the first time - is invisible in the way it operates, but beneficial in what it does, as the Panamera is supremely sure footed through fast sweeping bends and yet has a decent turning circle for tight spaces around town.

If there's one gripe it's that those big tyres - which measure 315mm at the back - emit enough road noise to intrude into the cabin and spoil some of the Panamera's new-found luxury.

At the end of it all, it's a small blotch on an otherwise impressive machine that, while being a better sports sedan than beore, is, importantly, a much more convincing luxury car than its predecessor.

2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo Price and Specifications

Price: $376,900 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol

Power: 404kW at 5750-6000rpm

Torque: 770Nm at 1960-4500rpm

Transmission: 8-spd dual-clutch automatic, AWD

Fuel use: 9.3L/100km

2017 Porsche Panamera 4S Price and Specification

Price: $304,200 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol

Power: 324kW at 5650-6600rpm

Torque: 550Nm at 1750-5500rpm

Transmission: 8-spd dual-clutch automatic, AWD

Fuel use: 8.1L/100km