Berlin: 2017 Porsche Panamera unveiled

The second-generation 2017 Porsche Panamera has been revealed during an event in Berlin, Germany. The new Panamera is longer, wider and taller than the model it replaces, and tries to break away from the design lines of the previous-gen Panamera.

The overall character of the four-door coupe is inspired from the new 911, with minor design cues from the 718 Boxster and Cayman. The front and rear get new set of LED lights, which make the Panamera a part of the updated Porsche family design. The biggest change becomes apparent when you see the Panamera from the side, as the new sports coupe gets a relatively slimmer profile. The designers have managed to keep the headroom unchanged, despite a drop of 20 mm in the roof height at the rear. Moreover, a 30 mm increase in the wheelbase of the new Panamera gives it a more planted stance.

On the inside, the second-gen Porsche Panamera gets a fully digital control panel that has minimized the use of any physical knobs and buttons. The instrument cluster gets an analog tachnometer which is surrounded by two high-resolution screens that are responsible for showcasing all necessary information to the driver. A 12.3-inch touchscreen system is mounted on the centre console comes with Porsche Communication Management (PCM 4.1). The rear seats get digital screens to take care of the infotainment needs of the rear occupants.

Engine options on offer with the new Panamera include a 2.9-litre V6 bi-turbo petrol mill that powers the Panamera 4S, and generates 434 BHP and 550 Nm of torque. Porsche claims that the 4S can sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. Meanwhile, the Panamera Turbo gets a twin-turbo, 4.0-litre V8 with 542 BHP and 770 Nm available on tap. This helps the Turbo variant to reach the 100 km/h mark in 3.8 seconds. Additionally, Porsche had added a new 4S diesel variant to the line-up that is powered by a 4.8 litre V8 engine rated at 416 BHP and 850 Nm. These power figures make it the most powerful diesel engine ever made by Porsche. In the 4S diesel, the 0-100 km/h sprint takes 4.5 seconds.

All the three engines are mated to an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission. The company has also claimed that the latest Panamera is 16 percent more fuel efficient than the model it replaces.