4 door sports sedans aren’t a whole lot popular in our country given the state of our roads and our growing fondness for super luxury SUV’s. So, the Porsche I am driving today is a rare breed – but is famous enough to be one of the fastest 4 door executive sedans in the world (minus all the new age EV’s). This throaty and staunchly non-hybrid Turbo S badged Panamera is the temple of performance within the range with a claimed 0-100kph in just 3.1 seconds!
The Panamera has also proved since a decade that Porsche can build a front-engine grand tourer with as much skill as its iconic rear engine sports cars. And for 2023 – it’s got a mild styling refresh, standard sports exhausts and an impressive engine range. But will this Panamera Turbo S make you squeal like a 911 would, with enough room for your kids screaming at the back? After spending a day, I am certain, it will!
Verdict
It’s hard to justify this fabulous 4 door super saloon on our roads one that costs north of Rs. 2.3 Crores (Turbo S) despite it being the 911’s practical, larger and sprightly sibling – one that can be luxurious or ferocious in equal measure. This particular Panamera Turbo S example with its acronyms and specked options came in well over Rs. 2.8 Crores.
And this price tag buys you a lot of AMG (hyper 4-door GT 63 S or the conventional AMG E 63 S) or a lot of practical super SUV’s (Cayenne Turbo or an RSQ8). But most of all I’d find it hard to not consider Porsche’s other four-door sports car – the spectacular Taycan, one who’s price tag is similar to the Turbo S but without the painful fuel bills when returning an average of 4 km/l. With just as much space inside and the same solidity and similar dynamic character, the Taycan is definitely is the most serious direct rival.
But as for the last few left standing in the pure petrol-powered era with blissful V8 notes, the new Turbo S is shockingly good. Every interaction will leave in no doubt that you are parking something special in your garage every night. And the Panamera is just that - another high-performance, unflappable driving machine from a brand renowned for delivering just that.
No hybrid? So, it isn’t green?
The Turbo S does not feature any mild electrification tech, and that’s a good thing as the outgoing Turbo S E-hybrid was reported to battle issues of added weight & complex electronics. And if the environmentalist in you isn’t impressed – the all-electric four door Taycan will have you floored with its pure electric only experience.
This pure petrol though is ample fun and keeps things simple with a twin-turbocharged V8 up-front, eight-speed PDK gearbox in the middle, and drive to all four wheels with e-active (electro-mechanical) anti-roll bars for an un-worldly stable ride and handling experience for all passengers. With a power output of 621 bhp and 820 Nm of torque, it shall put many supercars to shame as it can accelerate from standstill to a 100 kph in a swoosh of 3.1 seconds – 0.3 seconds faster than the old hybrid, with a top speed of 315 km/h!
These figures sit very favourably next to the recently launched Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-performance – the hyper performance four door sports sedan with identical power and near-identical performance.
Does it drive like a 911 then?
Absolutely if not wholly. Like the 911, Cayman and possibly every mainstream Porsche, this Turbo S has the balance and poise of an experienced figure skater but one that looks (and weighs) like a stout lady. Power is obviously ample, building effortlessly from as low down as you’re likely to need them.
At 16.6 feet long and tipping the scales at 2100+ kgs, the Panamera Turbo S is a heavy weight, but the way it corners or builds speed ever so effortlessly from as low down as you’re likely to need, it’s a serious testament to Porsche’s engineering prowess.
Overall refinement is surprisingly strong, and even on this car’s massive 21-inch wheels it rides beautifully at speed. We didn’t have a chance to test out the handling on twisty roads in this short stint – but Porsche’s tech acronyms such as – PASM, PDCC Sport, PTV Plus, PCCB and PSM, which require no decoding – ensure an impressive lack of drama, great balance of grip and comfort while offering a good amount of communication for such a large, luxurious car.
The Turbo S models also features massive carbon-ceramic brakes, featuring 16.5-inch front and 16.1-inch rear discs, so you can control the immense speed in a sudden, fade-free manner.
Is it an Expressway King?
Four seats, a comfortable cushy back seat, decent headroom, sensible boot space and a 0-100 thrust in 3 seconds makes for a delicious highway mile-munching recipe. But numbers are silly – as you personally have to feel the relentless pull of the Panamera as it accelerates to fully understand this car.
And it’s this effortless speed with a mild dab on the accelerator, touching north of 150 kmh in seconds – is what makes you feel like the king of the highway. The eight-speed gearbox is sublime but does feel jerky when caught off-guard dropping gears sometimes.
While I often complain about the new-age performance cars being quiet, that isn't the case with the Panamera Turbo S. With the Sport Exhaust engaged, the Panamera Turbo emits a throaty, powerful sound that's perfectly fitting for a vehicle of this type. The sound gets you excited when accelerating hard, but not so obnoxious that you can't cruise with the louder setting engaged.
Little has changed on the inside – you get the steering wheel from the 911 and an upgraded centre infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay. And it remains a strict four-seat interior with space for large six-footers at the rear. It’s practical too, with space for knick-knacks, a large usable boot that’s accessed via a huge hatchback and of course a great sense of solidity and perceived quality across.
Price: ₹2.34 Crore ex-showroom
Specs:
Engine - 4.0L V8
Power- 621 bhp
Torque- 820 Nm
Transmission- 8 speed auto
