New Porsche Panamera options

IIVVX · #1 08-25-2010, 09:01 PM

New Porsche Panamera sports saloon options | evo

Porsche has revealed new in-house modifications for the Panamera. Porsche is unveiling these options as it also announces worldwide Panamera sales figures of 23,000, success for a premium sports saloon considering the recently unsettled car market.

The first modification is the Powerkit. Only available on Turbo models, it ups power from 493bhp to 533bhp. Torque also improves by 37lb ft to 553lb ft, although this figure rises to 590lb ft for cars with the Sport Chrono pack. The sprint to 60 mph now takes 3.9sec, a tenth quicker than standard models, though we’ve managed 3.6sec in a regular Turbo…

The top speed also rises 2mph to 190mph, while Porsche claims that the car’s efficiency remains the same, with no change to its 24.6mpg fuel economy. However, those relatively small performance gains come at a big price: it'll set you back £11,118, and can be specified by new Panamera Turbo customers as well as retrofitted to existing cars.

Porsche is also offering several cosmetic modifications for the Panamera. The Sport Design Package offers a new front end with larger grilles for a more aggressive look, coupled with new side skirts. The kit costs £2516 and goes some way to making the Panamera a little less awkward looking. However, it was the rear end of the car that perhaps needed the most cosmetic attention from Porsche and yet it’s ignored by the Sport Design Package.

In the same release, Porsche has announced new 20in alloys as an option for all Panameras. The wheels give a more sporting look to the car and work well with the new Sport Design Package, prices starting at £2247 (£1058 for the Turbo).

Customers looking for extra electronic help from the car can specify a Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) system, which alters braking on the inside wheel when cornering to allow for more direct, controlled steering response. Combined with Porsche’s Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and a rear-axle differential lock, it costs £3130.

The cheapest of Porsche’s new Panamera options is a steering wheel with paddle gear-shifters. Costing £277, it fixes our gripes with the company’s otherwise impressive twin-clutch PDK gearbox.