Porsche Panamera Turbo, our winter marathon test – Sports Cars
Over a hundred historic vehicles with the same number of crews assembled in Madonna di Campiglio encounter a Winter marathon 2017, a difficult, long and cold regular race that includes a route of about 450 km between mountain passes, villages and (theoretically) snow-capped peaks. There is not much snow, but it doesn't matter, what awaits me is already quite difficult. Although I love racing, this time I'm not here to compete, but to follow the race in the best possible way: from the inside. And which car is better than a new one Porsche Panamera Turbo? My colleague Attilio and I will take turns driving, taking care not to interfere with the cars in the race, for twelve hours in a row, from 14,00: 2,00 Friday to 550: XNUMX Saturday morning. Armed with mandarins, Redbulls, four-wheel drive and XNUMX hp.
The new Porsche Panamera
First, a few performances. There new Porsche Panamera this is not a simple restyling, but a 100% new car. New rear very “nine eleven“Makes the outgoing model twenty years old. More tapered and tighter lines also make it more compact than the previous version, but he really grew up. The length has increased by 3,4 cm, the width by 6 cm, and the wheelbase has grown by 3 cm. This is an advantage for interior space, but in theory a disadvantage for handling. In practice, however, the rear axle steering system (already used on the late 911) actually shortens the car's wheelbase by turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction on tight corners, while providing more stability at high speeds by turning the wheels around corners. in the same direction. transmission.
Another important piece of news is new 8-speed PDK gearbox: Faster, lighter, and quicker than the old Tiptronic, which, while it did its job well in calm driving, was a little stranded with a knife between its teeth. Now it's on par with the 911, but has - literally - an advantage.
Top speed is still achieved in sixth gear, while seventh and eighth are upshifted to reduce noise and fuel consumption.
Then there is 19 "standard wheels (20" on Turbo), PASM shock absorbers, PDCC and PTV PLUS electronic systems, which, in combination with the rear axle steering, work wonders to keep the Panamera's mass in check. Yes, because there are 2.070 empty kilograms, but they seem much, much less.
The fracture can also be seen from the inside, where the main character is a new one. 12,3 inch touch screen and with proximity sensors - more movie screen than the system infotainment... Porsche wanted maximum connectivity because it knows that the Panamera customer wants everything, even if they don't. From this touchscreen, you can control everything from the ventilation system (with almost sci-fi electrically adjustable air vents) to navigation, to Apple Car Play and finally car height, trim, engine and gearbox settings. Everything.
Queen Turbo
New assortment Porsche Panamera now everything is turbo. But in our hands Turbo, the most powerful, luxurious and expensive version. Pushed V8 4,0-liter twin-turbo (with variable geometry turbines), The Panamera Turbo produces 550 hp. at 5.750 rpm and a monstrous 770 Nm. of torque from 1.960 rpm. Enough to launch it two tons from 0 to 100 km / h in 3,6 seconds, from 0 to 160 km / h in 8,4 seconds and reach a speed of 306 km / h. 158.354 euroThe price of the Panamera 4S is 117,362 euros and the diesel 4S is just over 121.000 euros.
Panamera at the Winter Marathon
Search correct driver position it's almost rituals, helps to feel at ease, allows arms and legs to move freely. According to the new Panamera I find the same identical position 911: low seat, well centered pedals and steering wheel farther away. IN interior of this new generation, they really High tech, a turning point that takes Stuttgart cars into a new technological dimension. And this is good, because we have a long way to go, and we need all the possible consolation and help. Not like over a hundred participants Winter marathon, daredevils armed with road books, scarves, hats (many cars are convertibles) and a true spirit of adventure.
I put the key in the compartment (which seems to have been made on purpose) of the center tunnel and turn the "half-key" that I find to the left of the steering column, and finally8-liter V4,0 awakens with a gift, but a polite sound. From the first meters on board the Panamera you immediately feel at ease: it's not like driving such a big and heavy car, not even as powerful. The same feeling as driving a Cayenne, but in this case, the feeling of cohesion is even greater. But if you close your eyes—virtually, if you don't want to hit a wall—you'll find that the 911's light nose is gone. The Panamera is another car for everyone. I also notice it on the first stretch going down to Pinzolo. The Panamera Turbo runs smoothly and agilely like on tracks, and the steering remains excellent at all times.... There is nothing to know about her, she is so intuitive and direct. The 275mm front tires bite so hard that you really have to have a suicidal instinct to get understeer. But the most amazing thing is that it is so light and friendly that anyone can get on it and go quickly, very quickly, from the very first kilometer.
And this is in view of the fact that your right leg has access to outstanding performance... Prerequisite: I'm driving in mode Sports (Sport + shifts very hard) and I use the gearbox in manual mode and the dampers are set for comfort. This allows the Panamera Turbo to travel as far as necessary, but Shock absorbers PASM electronically controlled soft enough that the wheels can follow the asphalt as they should.
It's hard to find a straight line long enough to engage more than two gears in a row, but I find it. There is a slight pause when you lower the throttle until the throttle is fully open, but as soon as the air is pumping up the turbos, the acceleration becomes sharp. The V8's sound is pleasing even as it rises into the high rev counter zone, making its thrust even more surreal.
I 550 h.p. doing their jobbut it's there torque 770 Nm already available at 2.000 rpm to make a difference. There is so much of it that I make sharp turns in third and very narrow sections of road in fourth or even fifth. However, the power is not enough to undermine the Panamera chassis, and this, gentlemen, is the real weapon of the Porsche flagship. Thrust. I come out of hairpin turns with my right foot in stomp mode and Turbona climbs like an alpine chamois: No understeer, no oversteer, it just breaks in.
This is in part because the V8 is not as responsive as the smaller turbocharged V6 in the 4S, but the electronics are actually Panamera they have very large brains and they know exactly what to do and how to do it. However, if you really want to, oversteer is possible, but it needs to be looked for and you shouldn't be afraid to manage it, also because it is really easy to control. When the giant 315/35 rear tires release, simply step on the gas pedal and turn the steering wheel sharply a few degrees. Everything happens very quickly, but very clearly.
It's more like driving sporty compact than GT. L 'steering axle plays an important role in this sense of agility: it works so well that I never cross my arms on tight turns, so a little steering is required to turn, which is not necessary. You can distinctly feel the moment the rear wheels start spinning, but it's not an annoying sensation, like the shopping cart is going where it wants to go.
I mountain passes follow each other one by one, but there is no shadow of snow. But in the race we meet dozens of participants, mostly Porsches. I thought that in regular races, the pace is not high, and this gives real gas! We soon find ourselves trapped in one Porsche 911 T и Launch Startos in the race on the timing section, a real show. It was late at night, after about ten hours in a straight line, except for half an hour for dinner. On Friday night we arrive at 2,00 almost divided, tired, but without pain. I can hardly imagine a Panamera Turbo car that would have done better with such a feat. It is an unstoppable millstone, but it can erase a mountain road with one shocking brutality.
