THE NEW PORSCHE PANAMERA PERFORMS PERFECTLY AT PACE, PRODUCES NEW LAP RECORD.
The Porsche Panamera. Released in 2009, this is Porsche’s audacious answer to the luxury four-door conundrum. Imagine, if you will, the soul of a 911 crammed into a sophisticated sedan, and you’ve got the Panamera. It’s as if the engineers at Stuttgart decided to throw caution to the wind and blend their famed sports car performance with the luxury and practicality of a grand tourer. This isn’t just a car with a Porsche badge slapped on the bonnet; it’s a full-blooded member of the family. That fastback design? Distinctive, yes, but also functional, giving it that unique silhouette which, love it or hate it, you can’t mistake for anything else. It’s a Porsche that is very divided when it comes to fans, but we’d take one especially if it was from the range-topping options. What makes the Panamera stand out in a crowded field of luxury sedans is its breadth of offerings. You’ve got everything from a V6 for the sensible among us, to a thunderous V8 for those who crave a bit more firepower. And for the eco-warriors who still want to feel the thrill of a Porsche, there’s the E-Hybrid. Yes, a hybrid Porsche that doesn’t make you feel like you’ve compromised your soul at the altar of fuel efficiency. The lineup is impressive. The standard Panamera is your entry ticket into this world of opulence and speed. Opt for the Panamera 4, and you get an all-wheel drive, a blessing for those rainy days when you still want to feel planted on the road. The Panamera Turbo? That’s the wild child of the family, packing an engine that’ll pin you to your seat and leave you grinning like a maniac. And then there’s the Panamera E-Hybrid, which shows that going green doesn’t mean going slow. Inside, the Panamera is a masterclass in luxury. Porsche has ensured that every touchpoint, every button, and every surface exudes quality. The cockpit wraps around you, making you feel like you’re in something special, which you really are.
The Nürburgring Nordschleife - where legends are made, and egos are broken. Enter the new top model of the Porsche Panamera, a machine that’s not just flexing but downright showing off. Porsche test driver Lars Kern, who knows the ‘Ring like the back of his hand, took this beast for a spin and shaved a jaw-dropping 5.64 seconds off the previous generation’s best time. That’s not just an improvement; that’s a statement. Kern set a blistering new record for luxury class cars with combustion engines and hybrids, clocking in at 7:24.17 minutes. For context, Kern’s no stranger to setting records on the Nordschleife. He did it in 2016 and again in 2020 in the Panamera Turbo S, with a time of 7:29.81 minutes. So when Kern says, “The new Panamera has made significant gains,” you better believe it’s not just marketing fluff. According to Kern, it’s all about the car’s transverse dynamic capabilities, between sections like ‘Hohe Acht’ and ‘Brünnchen,’ the new Panamera shows off its agility with a poise that defies its size. This isn’t just about raw power, it’s the whole package: the powertrain, the aerodynamics, the chassis, and those ultra-high-performance Michelin tyres. The new Porsche Active Ride chassis deserves a special shoutout. It keeps the car flat and stable, making cornering an exercise in precision rather than prayer. Kern highlights that this car isn’t just about day-to-day driving comfort; it’s about making a real difference on the track. The Panamera combines the plush luxury of a high-end saloon with the razor-sharp handling of a sports car. That’s no small feat. Inside, it’s equipped with a racing seat and a safety cage for protection, but otherwise, it’s your standard Panamera. Well, standard if you consider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and a Carbon Aerokit to eliminate lift on the front axle as standard fare, so there’s downforce that keeps the car glued to the track with an aerodynamic balance that’s nothing short of poetry in motion.
Take a look at the YouTube video showing the in-car footage of Lars Kern earning his pay by pushing the large Porsche to a new record lap time for the class: The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid sets new Nürburgring record | Porsche
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