Porsche has a long and legendary history when it comes to sports cars, but new for 2010 is their first addition to the growing luxury sports sedan market: the Porsche Panamera. Our host, Jessi Lang, spent a week road testing and reviewing the Panamera 4S.

With a noticeably Porsche-esque front end, many of the Panamera’s design cues, especially the noticeable sloping roofline that rises toward a high back end, have more in common with the Cayenne than perhaps the Boxster or the 911.

Although the look might be decidedly different from Porsche’s norm, its powertrain is not. Our test car, the Panamera 4S, boasts a 4.8-Liter V8 engine with 400 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and does 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 175 mph. Fuel economy is decent, you retain 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Not bad for a car that weighs nearly 5,500 pounds. The Panamera also uses a variant of its PDK dual-clutch transmission, one designed specifically for the Panamera in order to achieve a lower center of gravity.

Our test car’s interior is beautiful and high-tech as well as highly customizable, but also has a steep learning curve thanks to the dozens and dozens of dials and buttons that control every aspect of the car and its features. Digital gauges in the dashboard are classy and display all your pertinent information and then some. Hand-stitched leather seats and consoles really enhance the luxury aspect of the Panamera.

Be prepared, however, to spend a pretty penny on the Panamera. The base 4S model starts at $93,800 and our test car topped out at $114,515.

Other Links:

Porsche Panamera Forum

Porsche Panamera video on YouTube

Panamera pictures from the video shoot

Window sticker (Monroney Label) for our test car: 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S

Dr. Stefan Utsch, Porsche’s project manager for Sales and Marketing for the Panamera, was on hand to present the all-new 2010 Panamera at the recent press launch. When Porsche set forth with the new concept of the Panamera, there was one stipulation that could not be overlooked: the Panamera had to be a REAL Porsche.

To be a real Porsche, the Panamera had to provide the same spirit and abilities like its siblings in the Porsche lineup. True to that specification, the Panamera delivered. The seating position and steering wheel in the driver’s seat are identical to that of the 911. The exterior design is also sporty, with shorter overhangs at the front and rear of the vehicle. And of course, the Panamera has the Porsche Doppelkupplung dual-clutch transmission (PDK).

The Porsche Panamera essentially offers three different vehicles in one, by way of the three different driving characteristics. The three modes (Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus) tailor the driving experience to the mood of the driver and the road conditions. Pair the three modes to the other technologies like adaptive air suspension, stability management and traction management, and you have an all-new vehicle that embodies the Porsche spirit.  If you want to see how those systems fared on the track, watch our 2010 Porsche Panamera 0-60 Test.

For more videos, check us out on YouTube.

Also see the Roadfly Porsche Panamera forum.

While testing the 2010 Porsche Panamera, we had an opportunity to pick Porsche driver David Donohue’s brain about the features and design of the new Panamera. With the help of a Panamera cutaway car, you get a rare glimpse into some of the things that makes this car so great, like the low hood with the technology to prevent a pedestrian from going through the windshield in case of an accident to the thick doors that help provide the quiet ride. Donohoue also points out some of the smart design aspects, like the 100 L (just under 26.5 gallon) fuel tank that is hidden under the rear seats, and the tactfully-placed exhaust. For more on the 2010 Panamera, check out the video interview with David Donohue.

To watch more car review videos, check out RoadflyTV on YouTube.

The new Porsche Panamera continues to show itself with very little camouflage. There are at least 13 Porsche Panameras testing around the San Francisco area this week and Roadfly staff photographer Alex Stack managed to take another group of pictures yesterday. Pictured below are the test mules at rest in a basement garage.

Porsche Panameras Under Car Covers

One of my first questions for Alex was, “Were you able to learn anything about the engines or transmissions?” Alex responded, “This (green) car was clearly a V8 with the PDK transmission. When the car pulled away the sound was nice and deep. Deeper than the 2009 911s I recently drove. None of the cars I’ve seen so far have been turbo-charged.”

When asked about the interior of the car Alex commented, “The Porsche engineers were fast to cover up the dash when I had the camera out. There was very nice black woodgrain from the radio rightward over the glove box area. The steering wheel had trademark Porsche PDK shifters.” Alex continued, “The front seating area is very cockpit like with a center console that sits rather high. The center console sort of reminded me of the Porsche Carrera GT. The driver and front passenger each have a very defined seating area.”

You can see that the rear lines of the Panamera are very Caymanish. The way the fenders bulge up and over the rear wheels… the seems for the rear hatch as it cuts through the rear bumper cover… Cayman styling ques for sure. Also notice the vents behind the rear wheels and the hood bulge which starts down in the front bumper cover area. All of which are very strong characteristics of a high performance grand touring sedan.

The test mule pictured here is equipped with Porsche’s Adaptive headlight technology. This active safety system basically turns the headlights into a turn as you’re turning the wheel. The system helps light the way around corners providing for a safer driving experience.

If you visually block out the large camouflage “whale tale” you can see that the rear spoiler is very similar to that found on a 911. The 911s spoiler raises and lowers at speed to provide better high speed stability and provide more downforce. It certainly makes sense that Porsche would utilize the same technology in the Panamera.

Through the wheels, the optional PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Braking) system is clearly visible. The calipers are not painted bright yellow but these are definitely ceramic disks. The key advantage to Porsche’s PCCB brake system is the 50% unsprung weight savings which provides for greater performance both on the track and the street.

The pictured test mule has Continental Snow Tires mounted. The sizes are:

• Front 255/40 R20 Continental
• Rear 285/40 R20 Continental

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For more commentary about the new Porsche Panamera please visit the Porsche Panamera Forum

Update 10/31/08 @ 3:40 PM EST: Just added more than 100 hi-res photos of the Porsche Panamera GT

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