Sport Turismo: what the Panamera should have been from the beginning

With visual shooting brake and more space for passengers and luggage, new Porsche is the crown of the Panamera family

Since its launch in 2009, the Porsche Panamera has become a sales success – and a divisor of criticism. On the one hand, its combination of near-sports performance with the refinement and comfort of a luxury sedan is unbeatable.

On the other hand, the visual sedan solution with coupe profile failed to create its own identity, always referring to a stretched 911.

Porsche had already toned down the issue with the second generation of the model, launched last year. And now snatches worldwide praise with the Panamera Sport Tourism, production version of the concept shown in 2013.

The platform is exactly the same as the Panamera, with equal measures – 5.04 m in length, 1.93 m in width and inter-axles of 2.95 m. The design also follows identical to column B, between the front and rear doors. From there, the ceiling and windows lose their soft trim, ending more abruptly.

The rear is finished off by an active running spoiler. Up to 170 km / h (these Germans and their autobahns …), it remains at an angle of less than seven degrees, which reduces drag without harming fuel consumption. Above 170 km / h (or if the Sport and Sport Plus steering modes are activated), it gains a degree of incidence to generate up to 50 kg of downforce on the rear axle.

A third 26º angle can be chosen so that the spoiler will minimize wind noise when the panoramic sunroof is open.

The shooting brake style gave more personality to the car, and also more functionality. Thanks to the smaller slope of the ceiling, the space for the heads of those who go behind increased, as well as the ease of access.

The back seat, by the way, is a 2 +1: great convenience for two passengers and a little tight space for one more person in the middle if needed. As an option, the Sport Turismo can have two individual seats there, with electrical adjustments.

The trunk also increased, in addition to having its access facilitated by the smaller height of the door in relation to the ground. They are 520 liters up to the cap and a maximum volume of 1,390 liters with the rear seats folded. Porsche still offers rails, nets and hooks to better organize luggage.

For the driver, everything remains as in the new Panamera: the interior has impressive refinement, with materials and finish always in good taste. There are perfectly harmonized digital displays on the dashboard and center console.

The new Panamera 4 Sport Tourism (330 hp), Panamera 4S Sport Tourism (440 hp), Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Tourism (462 hp combined), Panamera 4S Diesel Sport Tourism (421 hp) and The top of the line Panamera Turbo Sport Tourism (549 hp). The latter should maintain the performance data of the sedan: from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.4 seconds, with a maximum of 306 km / h.

All configurations bring full traction and the full array of dynamic features present in the 2nd generation Panamera: adjustable pneumatic suspension, rear axle trim, electromechanically driven active stabilizer bars.

Sport Turismo will begin selling in Europe in October, priced between 97,557 euros ( Sport Tourism 4 Panamera) and 158,604 euros ( Sport Tourism Panamera Turbo).