Summarize

Porsche has trotted out its fresh-for-2021 Panamera complete with a hot new 460kW 4-litre biturbo V8 Turbo S flagship that not only gains 60kW but also an extra 50 Nms to see torque up to 820Nm a significant half-second 0-100km/h improvement to a dizzying 3.1 seconds. Top speed is up to 320km/h

That was enough to establish a new 7 minute 29.81 second Nürburgring Nordscheife lap record on the new, slightly longer official lap, that Porsche reckons, eclipses the albeit slightly quicker lap set by a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4 Door on the shorter, old track. But there’s more as Porsche has further added new powertrain options, updated Panamera’s technology, tweaked the chassis and worked on that look, too.

Slipping in under Turbo S, the Panamera GTS has also been spruced up with its biturbo 4-litre V8 also gaining 15kW to 320Nm along with 620Nm torque in an engine that runs more like an old school normally aspirated car, while its stock sports exhaust burbles a guttural V8 tone. Tasty!

Also new, the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid has 410kW and 750 on tap from a combination of a 300kW 2.9-litre biturbo V6 coupled with a 110Nm e-motor now integrated into the eight-speed transmission. 

That’s almost a 75kW stronger than the outgoing 4 E-Hybrid to make 100km/h in 3.5 seconds and on to 300km/h top end.  Panamera 4S E-Hybrid now has a 17.9 kWh battery pack with optimised cells and revised driving modes to dramatically improve efficiency and a 50km battery-only range that is 30% up on the old car too. 

The 2021 Panamera also gains model-specific air suspension, PASM management, dynamic chassis control and roll stabilisation upgrades, while the Turbo S adds standard PDCC Sport roll-stabilization, PTV Plus Torque Vectoring and 420 mm front and 410 mm rear PCCB Ceramic Composite Brakes, all also optional fitment on the other Panamera models.

Don’t look too hard for those styling upgrades — they’re subtle across all three saloon, Sport Turismo estate and long-wheelbase executive models. and there’s not all that much to shout about inside, bar a few new functions in the infotainment and driver assistants

Pricing will be confirmed when Porsche opens the order books early next year, with deliveries commencing in autumn 2021. Just in time for the hot new Panamera to really warm your winter! - Michele Lupini