The interior

The interior offers an individual cockpit-like environment for all four seats, with a continuous centre console that extends from the fascia to the rear seating area.

The low seating position and the sporting, low-slung steering wheel ensure that direct feeling for the road so typical of a Porsche.

Customer can choose among many options and customisation opportunities.

Smooth and natural leathers are available in a total of 13 colour and material combinations, including four two-tone options that can be combined wherever required with seven optional interior trim finishes including exclusive materials such as carbon fibre and Natural Olive wood.

Safety features include driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags and – on the front seats – side and knee airbags. Side airbags are available for the rear seats as an optional feature.

The sporty-styled yet comfort seats featured as standard in the Panamera S and 4S can be adjusted electrically in eight different directions.

In the rear, two individual seats - with a folding centre armrest - provide generous legroom and headroom, particularly for tall passengers.

The Panamera Turbo combines electric seat adjustment with a Comfort Memory Package also for the electrically adjustable steering column.

Further alternatives such as adaptive sports seats or rear comfort seats with powered adjustment are available as options.

Four-zone automatic air conditioning is available as a further option, providing individual adjustment of temperature, blower intensity and air distribution for each seat.

Customers can choose a High-End Surround Sound System from Burmester, the renowned Berlin audio specialist, which features more than 2,400 square centimetres of ‘sound membranes’ to deliver an audio experience very similar to that of a live concert.

A total of 16 loudspeakers masterminded by 16 amplifier channels with an overall output of more than 1,000 watts provide a unique sound, complemented by an active subwoofer together with a 300 W Class D amplifier.

The luggage compartment capacity in the Panamera S and 4S is 445 litres or 15.6 cu ft, maximum stowage in the Panamera Turbo is 432 litres or 15.1 cu ft – and with the rear seat back rests folded, luggage capacity increases to an ample 1,250 litres or 43.8 cu ft.

Technical Features

Initially, the Panamera is entering the market with V8 power units only, featuring either rear or all-wheel drive. The Panamera S is powered by a 4.8-litre V8 developing a maximum output of 400 bhp (294 kW). Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a six speed manual transmission as standard, or the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox can be specified as an option.

The Panamera features Direct Fuel Injection engine technology, low-friction drive systems and lightweight bodyshells for optimum efficiency. Furthermore, offered in combination with the PDK transmission is the new Porsche Auto Start Stop function. This automatically switches off and restarts the engine when stationary to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions – for example, at traffic lights or in congestion.

The Panamera S, when fitted with the PDK option, can accelerate to 62mph (100 km/h) in 5.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 176mph (283 km/h). Combined fuel consumption to the EU5 standard, in turn, is 26.2 mpg (10.8 ltr/100 km) and the Co2 emission rating is 253 g/km.

The Panamera 4S also features the 4.8-litre V8 developing 400 bhp (294 kW), with engine power conveyed to all four wheels via the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe.

Acceleration to 62mph (100 km/h) takes 5.0 seconds, top speed is 175mph (282 km/h). Fuel consumption to the EU5 standard is 25.4mpg (11.1 ltr/100 km) and Co2 emissions are 260 g/km.

At the head of the Panamera line-up is the Panamera Turbo, offering a twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 developing 500 bhp (368 kW), with power transmitted again by the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK). With all-wheel drive as standard, the Panamera Turbo accelerates to 62mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 188mph (303 km/h).

Fuel consumption in the EU combined cycle is 23.2mpg (12.2 ltr/100 km) and Co2 emissions are 286 g/km.

Fitted to every Panamera will be a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard, and customers will also be able to explore the potential of their new car by participating in a complimentary course at the new Porsche Driving Experience Centre, Silverstone.

The Panamera will go on sale on September 2009.

(Source: Porsche)