Porsche telah memutuskan untuk menghentikan varian wagon Sport Turismo dalam rangkaian Panamera, memberi tumpuan kepada jajaran sedan sahaja untuk generasi ketiga sedan. Keputusan ini menyusul kemunculan model Panamera terkini, yang ketara tidak mempunyai pilihan Sport Turismo.
Keputusan untuk menghentikan Sport Turismo didorong oleh jualan yang perlahan, yang tidak membenarkan pembangunan generasi seterusnya. Porsche mengakui bahawa Sport Turismo mempunyai peranan yang terhad dalam pasaran utama, terutama di China dan Amerika Syarikat. Porsche menyatakan, “Di China dan Amerika Syarikat – pasaran utama kami dalam segmen D – Sport Turismo memainkan peranan yang kecil. Oleh itu, kami telah memutuskan untuk menghentikan varian model ini dengan pelancaran generasi baru.”
Porsche has made the strategic decision to discontinue the Sport Turismo wagon variant in the Panamera lineup, unveiling the third generation of the luxury sedan with a renewed focus on a sedan-only range. The move follows the debut of the latest Panamera model, which showcased the absence of the Sport Turismo option.
The decision to drop the Sport Turismo comes as a response to the model’s slow sales, which did not justify the development of a successor. Porsche acknowledges that the Sport Turismo has played a minor role in key markets, especially in China and the United States. The statement from Porsche highlights the specific market dynamics, stating, “In China and the US – our main markets in the D-Segment – the Sport Turismo plays only a minor role. For this reason, we have decided to discontinue this model variant with the launch of the new generation.”
Porsche telah melancarkan iterasi ketiga sedan mewah ikoniknya, Panamera. Model terkini ini bukan sahaja sekadar pembaharuan visual tetapi lompatan teknologi yang advan, menampilkan pelbagai peningkatan digital, penyelenggaraan reka bentuk kontemporari, dan rentetan spektrum prestasi dinamik serta keselesaan memandu yang diperluaskan.
Panamera memasuki zaman digital dengan bergaya, membanggakan rangkaian ciri digital yang diperkaya yang menyemarakkan semula pengalaman sedan mewah. Porsche Communication Management (PCM) mengambil peranan utama, menyepadukan ekosistem digital pengguna secara lancar untuk tahap interaksi yang belum pernah terjadi sebelum ini dengan kereta. Pengenalan sistem suspensi Porsche Active Ride menetapkan piawai baru, menyelaraskan keselesaan yang ditingkatkan dengan DNA sporty yang terkenal dengan Porsche.
Panamera tidak hanya kelihatan hebat; ia menjanjikan pengalaman memandu yang tiada tandingan dengan suspensi udara dwi-ruang dua-katup standardnya. Bagi mereka yang mencari lapisan prestasi tambahan, sistem suspensi aktif Porsche Active Ride yang bersifat pilihan, tersedia untuk model E-Hybrid, memperkenalkan penyerap hentakan aktif, memastikan keseimbangan yang tiada tandingan antara keselesaan memandu dan dinamik.
Porsche menawarkan keseluruhan empat kuasa hibrid E-Hybrid untuk Panamera baru, sebagai respons kepada permintaan tinggi untuk sistem pemanduan ini. Semua varian E-Hybrid mendapat manfaat dari prestasi, jarak, dan kecekapan yang lebih besar. Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid sedia pada pelancaran pasaran. Inti kuasanya adalah enjin turbo V8 empat liter yang telah diubah suai secara asas. Output motor elektrik yang baru dibangunkan adalah 190PS. Bersama-sama, mereka mencipta output sistem sebanyak 680PS. Tork sistem mencapai 930Nm yang mengagumkan.
Porsche mengintegrasikan motor elektrik ke dalam behu pengubahsuaian dwi-kopling PDK delapan kelajuan yang telah diubah suai secara menyeluruh. Penghapusan behu E-motor yang berasingan dapat menjimatkan sekitar lima kilogram. Pengintegrasian unit ke dalam litar minyak transmisi juga mengoptimumkan imbangan haba unit pemanduan elektrik dan membenarkan pengeluaran berterusan yang lebih tinggi dari motor elektrik.
Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid meluncur ke 100km/j dalam masa 3.2 saat dan membanggakan kelajuan tertinggi 315km/j. Kapasiti baterinya kini adalah 25.9 kWh. Ini membolehkan julat elektrik setara hingga 91km dalam kitaran WLTP yang digabungkan atau 83-93km dalam kitaran bandar. Pemacu AC 11 kW onboard baru mengurangkan masa cas di stesen cas yang sesuai kepada dua jam 39 minit.
Rupa luar Panamera mengekalkan garis ikoniknya tetapi menerima penyegaran menyeluruh, memancarkan aura yang lebih ekspresif dan sporty. Dalaman, tempat perlindungan berpusat pemandu, memperkenalkan konsep kokpit Pengalaman Pemandu Porsche, dengan mahir menyeimbangkan kawalan digital dan analog. Model Turbo E-Hybrid menaikkan taraf kemewahan dengan elemen reka bentuk eksklusif, di dalam dan di luar.
Lampu hadapan Matrix LED standard dan satu set sistem bantuan canggih, termasuk pengenalan tanda lalu lintas dan pembantu bergerak, menyumbang kepada pengalaman memandu yang lebih selamat dan terhubung.
Selaras dengan zaman digital, Panamera diintegrasikan ke dalam kehidupan digital pemandu, menyokong kedua-dua Apple CarPlay dan Android Auto. Paparan penumpang yang bersifat pilihan mengintegrasikan penumpang ke dalam pengalaman memandu. Skrin 10.9-inci menunjukkan data prestasi kenderaan atas permintaan. Ia juga membolehkan operasi sistem hiburan dan menyokong penayangan video semasa kereta bergerak. Bagi mengelakkan mengganggu sesiapa yang berada di belakang roda, paparan penumpang tidak dapat dilihat dari tempat duduk pemandu.
Peminat kini boleh membuat pesanan untuk Panamera baru, dengan penghantaran di Eropah dijangkakan bermula pada Mac 2024. Harga permulaan di Jerman adalah €107,800 (RM551,218), termasuk VAT dan kelengkapan khusus negara. Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid bermula dari €192,500 (RM984,318).
Porsche has rolled out the third iteration of its iconic Panamera luxury sedan. This latest model is not just a visual revamp but a technological leap forward, featuring an array of digital enhancements, a contemporary design overhaul, and an expanded spectrum of dynamic performance and driving comfort.
The Panamera enters the digital age with a bang, boasting an enriched suite of digital features that redefine the luxury sedan experience. The Porsche Communication Management (PCM) takes centre stage, seamlessly integrating the user’s digital ecosystem for an unprecedented level of interaction with the car. The introduction of the Porsche Active Ride suspension system sets a new benchmark, harmonising heightened comfort with the sporty DNA Porsche is renowned for.
The Panamera doesn’t just look good; it promises an unparalleled driving experience with its standard dual-chamber two-valve air suspension. For those seeking an extra layer of performance, the optional Porsche Active Ride active suspension system, available for E-Hybrid models, introduces active shock absorbers, ensuring an unparalleled balance between driving comfort and dynamics.
Porsche offers a total of four efficient E-Hybrid powertrains for the new Panamera, in response to the high demand for this type of drive system. All E-Hybrid variants benefit from greater performance, range and efficiency. The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid is ready at market launch. The heart of its powertrain is a fundamentally revised four-litre V8 turbo engine. The output of the newly developed electric motor is 190PS. Together, they create a system output of 680PS. The system torque reaches an impressive 930Nm.
Porsche integrates the electric motor into the housing of the comprehensively redesigned eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. Dispensing with a separate E-motor housing saves around five kilograms. The integration of the unit into the oil circuit of the transmission also optimises the heat balance of the electric drive unit and allows higher continuous output from the electric motor.
The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid sprints to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and boasts a top speed of 315km/h. Its battery capacity is now 25.9 kWh. This enables an equivalent electric range of up to 91km in the combined WLTP cycle or 83–93km in the city cycle. A new 11 kW on-board AC charger shortens the charging time at suitable charging points to two hours and 39 minutes.
The Panamera’s exterior retains its iconic lines but receives a comprehensive facelift, exuding a more expressive and sporty aura. The interior, a driver-centric haven, introduces the Porsche Driver Experience cockpit concept, skillfully balancing digital and analog controls. The Turbo E-Hybrid model takes luxury up a notch with exclusive design elements, both inside and out.
Standard Matrix LED headlights and a suite of advanced assistance systems, including traffic sign recognition and a swerve assistant, contribute to a safer and more connected driving experience.
Keeping pace with the digital era, the Panamera integrates into the driver’s digital life, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An optional passenger display closely integrates the passenger into the driving experience. The 10.9-inch screen displays vehicle performance data on request. It also allows operation of the infotainment system and supports video streaming while the car is in motion. In order to avoid distracting whomever is behind the wheel, the passenger display cannot be seen from the driver’s seat.
Enthusiasts can now place their orders for the new Panamera, with European deliveries set to kick off in March 2024. The starting price in Germany is a competitive €107,800 (RM551,218), inclusive of VAT and country-specific equipment. The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid starts from €192,500 (RM984,318).
The Porsche Panamera arrived on the scene in 2009, offering sportscar performance one with the versatility of a touring sedan. It has shaped the brand over the course of the last 10 years as a technology platform for innovations that were transferred to other Porsche models.
Over 250,000 units have been delivered worldwide to date and to celebrate the model’s 10th anniversary, Porsche has prepared a special edition model series. The 2020 Panamera 10 Year Edition models feature upgraded standard equipment and exclusive design highlights. The special edition is available for the Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid versions.
The special standard equipment list includes 21-inch Panamera Sport Design wheels in satin-gloss White Gold Metallic and ‘Panamera10’ logos on the front doors, also in White Gold Metallic. The anniversary logo can also be found in the interior on the front passenger trim panel and on the door entry guards. The interior is black with deviated stitching in White Gold.
Additional standard equipment
The Panamera 10 Year Edition models come as standard with a host of additional comfort and safety features. ParkAssist including Surround View, LED matrix design headlights including PDLS Plus, Lane Change Assist and Lane Keep Assist are part of the extended standard equipment, as are heated 14-way comfort seats with Porsche crest on the headrests, soft-close doors, and a BOSE Surround Sound system.
With standard adaptive 3-chamber air suspension including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Power Steering Plus, the Panamera10 models are also ideally equipped for outstanding driving dynamics.
The hybrid version comes with the otherwise optional 7.2-kW on-board charger rather than the 3.6-kW charger that is included in a standard Panamera 4 E-Hybrid model.
The Panamera 10 Year Edition and Panamera 4 10 Year Edition both use a mono-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine generating 330 ps, while the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid 10 Year Edition has a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor that generate a combined 457 ps.
A Porsche for four
Looking back at the company’s history of over 70 years, the idea of offering a Porsche for four was considered from time to time. However, prototypes such as the Type 530 based on the 356, lengthened variants of the 928 or the 4-door coupe Type 989 did not make it into production.
Type 530 of the 1950s
A prototype built in the 1960s on one of the occasions when the engineers thought about a Porsche for four.
At the start of the new century, the decision was made to develop a 4-door hatchback sedan. The requirements included outstanding driving dynamics, generous interior space and a quintessentially Porsche appearance. The first Panamera made its public debut on April 19, 2009 on the 94th floor of the World Financial Centre in Shanghai, and set standards in its class thanks to the wide spread between sportiness and comfort. It was packed with innovations: for the first time, a luxury-class production model was offered with a dual-clutch transmission and start-stop system. The flagship Panamera Turbo also introduced air suspension with adjustable air volume, as well as an adjustable, multi-dimensionally extendable rear spoiler.
In 2011, the Panamera set the stage for a new age of electromobility: as the first parallel full hybrid in the premium sedan segment, the Panamera S Hybrid was the most economical Porsche to date despite a power output of 380 ps. Two years later, the Panamera S E-Hybrid once again led the way in the segment as the world’s first plug-in hybrid.
With the second generation, introduced in 2016, Porsche embraced electric performance . The boost strategy adopted from the 918 Spyder allows sportscar-like performance in combination with high efficiency. The top model is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid with a system power of 680 ps.
“What does Sport Turismo mean,” asked my father when I told him I was going to be driving the new Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo during the Porsche Drive of The Year.
I thought about it for a few seconds, and being unable to find a better way of explaining it, I just said:
“It is another fancy word for hatch back or estate, Dad, but it pretty much means the same thing – a car with a sweeping roof line”.
Or is it?
After driving it for an entire week around Peninsular Malaysia, I realized that the Panamera Sport Turismo is anything but, despite the sweeping roof line.
Before the days of SUVs, hatch backs and estates were the go to vehicles for convenience this side of a van, to store whatever it is you couldn’t store in a regular booth.
And many Sport Turismo articles have been written with references to the “shooting-brake” body style.
But how you could you explain the Sport Turismo concept without mentioning the shooting-brake, just look at the Ferrari 365 GTB Daytona Shooting Brake. This is about where it all started for the Shooting Brake themed sports cars.
But quick search on wikipedia will tell you that the shooting-brake was originally “horse-drawn wagons used to transport shooting parties with their equipment and game”.
Today though, the basic idea remains the same – to carry a lot of stuff – except the game now is replaced with the space necessary for family.
However, that still does not explain why Porsche prefers to call it Sport Turismo rather than the Panamera Shooting-Brake.
Lets first go back to the Grand Turismo, a type of car, initially a coupe, that was the perfect mix of luxury, a massive powerful engine, and the ability to traverse continents without the passenger knowing it.
The term then got twisted to prefer marketing departments of different manufacturers and that is how we arrived at the Sport Turismo, cousin of the Grand Turismo, cousin of the Grand Tourer, sometimes simply known as the GT.
The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is the cooler, sleeker, roomier and supposedly more convenient cousin to the Panamera sedan.
But to be totally, completely, to the point. It is not thaaaat much roomier than the sedan, in fact, from some points, the sedan is a better car. The Sport Turismo is actually 65kg heavier because of the additional body work around the c-pillar.
But what it is however is a cooler car, it has a lot more road presence simply because of its peculiar looks.
And the fact that it is a massive car, almost ten feet long and six and a half feet wide.
It may be a bulbous car though, but it has some very clever electronics that make its hefty size feel like a hot hatch.
At the heart of the car is a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder twin-turbocharg engine with 330hp and 450Nm of torque.
Arguably that is not a lot of power for a car that costs close to RM1 million, considering that a Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG makes 380hp, but I know that’s like comparing a “spruce goose” to an F-15. Just saying that it doesn’t make that much power.
But it still entertained everyone who drove it.
Driving the Sport Turismo is an experience by itself, one that is not much different from the sedan or the Cayenne.
The dashboard is as wide as the car and the centre console is takes up most of the space with the gear knob and touch-screen switches in the form of a black touch pad.
Confession – I still prefer the buttoned switches of the previous-generation Panamera.
But what I really appreciate about the interior of the car though is it’s:
A) Superb build quality.
B) A beautiful high resolution 12-inch touchscreen display.
C) Rear passenger leg room and amenities.
The Sport Turismo, like its cousin, sits four, but Porsche realized that sometimes family folks, instead of business moguls, buy the ST, so now offer a conventional 4+1 seating concept as standard.
If you’re a business mogul who prefers the four-seater, you just have to tock the box on the options list where it says “individual rear power seats”.
Anyway, back to what makes the ST feel like a hot-hatch. Technology and smart electronic systems.
The size of the car is managed by Porsche’s rear-axle steering system that moves the rear wheels in opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds – giving the car surprisingly manageable in tight parking lots – and then moves the front and rear wheels in the same direction during high-speed maneuvering, aiding agility and “flickability”. About a year and a half ago, we were given the opportunity to take a ride in the ST around Sepang with Le Mans Earl Bamber behind the wheel, you can imagine what ensued, and that’s where the photo above is from.
But there are other Porsche systems that bring the car to life on tight trunk roads, like the Porsche Active Suspension Management, Dynamic Chassis Control Sport, and a unique air suspension with three-chamber technology.
Managing everything in an onboard computer that calculates the car’s pitch, roll and yaw, calculates the data quicker than u can think and immediately preps the car, giving the driver maximum control at all times.
In the mountains around the Belum Rainforest Reserve in Pahang, the tight winding roads put the ST’s computers to the test.
The rear-axle steering hid the bulk while the electronic suspension kept the car’s body roll in check.
The car didn’t exactly handle as if it were on rails, but considering its size and weight, it handled beautifully.
Better than the Cayenne too, but the ST is low and wide, better handling than the Cayenne is to be expected.
But underneath it all, it was the electronic gremlins doing their thing. The Porsche Active Suspension Management working overtime to reduce body movement and interior comfort.
There is no way a car like the ST is able to accelerate and brake, turn on a dime and catapult out of a corner if it were not for advanced technologies underneath that metal work.
But inside it remains serene, even the sport exhausts have an elegant bellow, high-pitched at the fun end of the rpm meter, and low rumbles at the not so fun side.
You can customise the car according to how you want it, everything from the colour of the stitching to the colour of the rims.
The car we drove during DOTY costs a cool RM1.2 million. It of course came with all the feel-good, look-good, go-fast options.
Our favorite part about the car we spend a week with? The sport chrono package, sport exhaust, 21 inch wheels, and eight-way power rear seats.
The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is not here to make up for the standard Panamera lacks, it is here to make an already capable car all the better and is for those who want the space but not an SUV.
The first Porsche I ever laid eyes on was a black 964 around the hills of Bangsar. I was probably about four years old; I don’t remember much else except that it completely took my breath away and that it was love at first sight.
Since then, the 911 has been the ultimate everyday supercar for me. A Porsche fan boy, you can imagine what was running through my head when I got a phone call asking if I would like to join the Porsche Club Malaysia for a week long drive around Malaysia. It was going to be a 2200km and I could drive the Cayenne and the Panamera Sport Turismo and mingle with people who buy the GT2RS, GT3RS and the Turbo. And sometimes, that one person would have all three models in his garage.
Naturally I would have preferred a 911 for the road trip, but I was not about to say no, and so I had a few days to prepare for a week of driving.
It has been about 10 years since I last joined the Porsche Club Malaysia for a drive. The last one was a road trip to Rompin for a spot of charity and drag racing on a landing strip. This time however, it was an entirely different trip.
Called the Drive of the Year 2019, PCM Malaysia and PCM Singapore put in a joint effort to organise its first major drive of the year with fuel provided by Shell V-Power Racing. Beginning at the Porsche Centre in Sungai Besi and ending at Puteri Harbour on the first day, the convoy of about 40 Porsches of all models then headed to Tanjung Jara in Terengganu, followed by Belum in Perak, onto Penang Island via Kuala Perlis and back to KL from there.
Some of our rest stops were quite unique, and even included a stop over at the hugely popular RWB Museum in Johor. RWB – Rauh-Welt Begriff – the Japanese customiser who specialises in turning beautiful 964s into wider, lower, and depending on who you ask and dare I say it, rather handsome interpretation of the donor Porsche.
And when we weren’t eating at popular restaurant’s sometimes frequented by royalty, we were turbo-ing down the coastal roads of our country at speeds best kept secret.
We were in the new Cayenne and the Sport Turismo though, so we really were in the most comfortable cars in the convoy. But far from being the most underpowered or slowest with both cars offering 330hp and eye watering acceleration, I really wouldn’t say that keeping up was all that tough. Though the lead group would often reach the destination a good 45 minutes to an hour ahead of us. But driving both cars on highways and by-ways was an experience I won’t soon forget.
Why?
Imagine cars weighing about two tons barrelling down the “kampung” roads with badly patched roads throwing the balance of the car all over the place. The onboard sensors looking out for any obstacle or any dangerous situation that may arise, immediately alerting you to a potentially dangerous situation. And if you do not react fast enough, the Cayenne and Sport Turismo would even apply the brakes for you. But it never got to that, of course ; )
Such bad roads put the suspension to the ultimate test – will the car glide, or will it hop and skip all over the place? The suspension in both the Panamera and the Sport Turismo is of course adjustable. In Sport and Sport Plus mode, selected via a knob on the steering wheel the same size as a old 20 cent coin, the suspension stiffens up, giving you more control of the car, but also shakes things up to a noticeable level in the cockpit as it transfers all the irregularities on the road directly to you instead of soaking it up, which is what it does in normal mode.
Back to the drive.
Tagging along with a group of hardcore Porsche enthusiasts for an entire week is one of those experiences that will stick with you for a while, up there with skydiving even. The cars are almost always the topic of conversation, besides the logistics and itinerary of the drive that is, and in club drives like this it is awesome to mingle with car enthusiasts who are as humble and down to earth as your best friend. Just don’t ask to take the GT2RS out for a drive though.
Did you ever think you’d see the day when a Kiawould be compared to the likes of a BMWM6 and PorschePanamera? How things have changed! Here’s more of the Stinger in action…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSWQTkbTYIQ
Be sure to catch our feature on how the S.Koreans have caught up with the Japanese, coming soon!
Porsche has had a good start to 2017, it has sold 60,000 vehicles worldwide so far this quarter. This is a 7% increase in sales compared to the same period last year and is considered the best quarter of the company’s history. China and Germany were the main markets that contributed to the increase in sales volume this year but the models that saw the most growth were the Panamera and Macan.
“Porsche has made a successful start with the new Panamera – this trend now needs to continue throughout the rest of the year”, said Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. “Our attractive model range gives us an outstanding basis to achieve this”. Porsche presented no fewer than three new models at the Geneva Motor Show: the new Panamera Sport Turismo, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid and the 911 GT3″.
In China alone, Porsche sold a total of 18,126 vehicles which exceeded last year’s figure by 10%. In Europe, the sportscar maker saw a 7% increase in sales which means it delivered 19,084 customers.
Porsche sold a total of 7,160 vehicles this quarter in Germany, a 19% increase compared to last year. The 911 range contributed to 1,600 sales and the Panamera bolstered the company’s sales even further.
Sales volume increased in the USA too with 12,718 vehicles sold to date which is a 4% increase. For the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East markets, Porsche sold 25,506 vehicles which is a 6% increase compared to the same period last year. But in general, Porsche stated that it found sales figures of the Panamera particularly pleasing because it was a 12% increase compared to the same period last year with a total of 3,630 vehicles delivered, sales for the 718 range saw a 4% increase with a total of 6,060 vehicles sold. About 24,797 Macan vehicles were sold in the first quarter of this year which is a 15% increase.
The start to 2017 has been good for Porsche and if it continues the same momentum throughout the year, expect more record breaking sales figures to be posted in 2018.
Porsche has made some changes for 2017 with regards to the optional extras for its vehicles which include new colours for the exteriors and interiors as well as power upgrades for the 911S range.
Starting with its new colour palette for this year, Crayon is a colour that’s available for all 911 and 718 models. Reserved for the 911 range is the four-coat paint in Saffron Yellow Metallic with intermediate sanding. If you opt for the optional sports exhaust, Porsche can paint the tailpipes in high-gloss black. As for the interior, the company has expanded the range to include Sport-Tex equipment in Black or Graphite Blue/Crayon.
As far as the Cayenne is concerned, the colour range now includes Purpurite Metallic and Palladium Metallic. It’s baby sister, the Macan, receives leather interior in Black/Luxor Beige. New exterior and interior colours are also available for the Panamera which gets Burgundy Red Metallic and Ristretto Brown Metallic as well as leather interior with Black/Luxor Beige. But if you’ve decided on the club leather, then you can also choose to have it in either Cohiba Brown or Truffle Brown.
And now for the power bit. Porsche say that for all new 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4S and 911 Targa 4S models, it offers a kit that will offer a power bump of 30bhp to 450bhp. The kit is said to include larger turbochargers, the Sport Chrono package including dynamic engine mountings, a modified brake cooling system and the sports exhaust system with two central tailpipes. What might excite those who’ve already purchased an S model 911 with a Chrono pack, starting from June 2017, this power increase is available for purchase via Porsche Tequipment as a retrofit option.