2010 Porsche Panamera review

[PorscheDubai]

Seldom has a new car caused so much controversy as the Panamera.

In fact, the introduction of a new type of car to the Porsche range caused outrage amongst die-hard fans of the brand that hadn’t been seen since, well, the last time they introduced a new type of car.

When the German sports car company announced it was introducing a sedan, the reaction was similar to that when it announced an SUV. But the Cayenne has gone on to sell very well, so don’t be surprised to see the same from the Panamera.

Porsche has strived to achieve a balance between comfort and its sporting heritage with this new four-door, four-seat machine. So while there’s plenty of rear legroom and lots of luxury, the driving position is low and 911-like, the suspension is firm and the engines powerful.

Not all the international Panamera range is on sale in the Middle East – the lower-end models are dropped for the region, meaning we get the S, 4S and Turbo models.

Engine choices begin with the 400bhp, 4.8-litre V8 found in the Panamera S and 4S (the difference between the two being rear and four-wheel drive respectively). The top-level Panamera Turbo uses the same engine, but with a bi-turbo system to up the power to 500bhp. All the engines are available with either a six-speed manual transmission or Porsche’s seven-speed, dual-clutch PDK automatic.

Powered leather seats, climate control and a Bose sound system are standard, and options include satellite navigation and a DVD rear seat entertainment system.

SOURCE: http://automiddleeast.com/2010-porsche-panamera-2/