2017 Porsche Panamera: We’re Driving it this Week

Published on August 22, 2016 in Spotlight on by Costa Mouzouris

The Porsche Panamera has been completely redesigned for 2017, the first major upgrade on the sporty four-door coupe since it was introduced in 2009, and nothing has been left untouched.

We got a chance to see the new 2017 Porsche Panamera in early August, but we’ll be driving it this week in Munich.

Among the changes is a new body structure where use of aluminum is more generously applied, which helps keep the weight very close to the current model, at around 2000 kg, despite being larger in all dimensions.

Two engines will be initially available in Canada. A 440-horsepower, 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 in the 4S puts out a substantial 406 lb.-ft. of peak torque, while claiming 8.1 L/100 km using the European test cycle. A more potent 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 in the Turbo makes 550 hp and 568 lb.-ft. of peak torque. Both cars will have an eight-speed PDK gearbox, and both are all-wheel drive. Rear wheel steering will be optional.

Other markets will also get a 4.0-litre twin-turbo-diesel V8 that claims 422 hp and 627 lb.-ft. of torque, but we’ll have to wait and see if it makes here in the future.

Among the changes are a slew of new electronic and connectivity features, which we will go into detail on our report later this week on The Car Guide.