When sports car specialist Porsche decided to go ahead with the plans to launch a sedan back in 2009, the fans of the brand made hue and cry over the decision. They feared a shift in focus of Porsche from sports car making. Despite all odds, Porsche launched the luxurious Panamera sedan in 2009 and seven years down the line, it is one of the most selling products of the company. Now the company has launched second generation of the flamboyant sedan, which looks even more stylish.
Expected to hit Indian market sometime next year, the new Panamera, according to the company, has been redeveloped and realigned down to the last detail. Revealed in Berlin on Tuesday, the sports saloon now boasts a new design, engines and technologies. Unmistakably a Panamera, yet the version's design has also taken cues from the 911 sports car range. The sedan has grown in dimensions. The length has been increased by 35mm, width by 5mm and the wheelbase has been extended by 30mm. The roof line, which is now lower by 20mm, adds sport car kind of looks to the Panamera.
The interior is spruced with a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the centre dash. The number of buttons in the interior has been reduced that makes the dash clutter free. The car also boasts of panoramic tilt roof, massage seats, ambient lighting and 3D surround sound system from Burmester.
Based on the Porsche's newer MSB (modular standard architecture) that sheds lot of weight with the use of aluminium, the sports sedan is available in three new twin-turbo direct injection in the Panamera Turbo, the Panamera 4S and the Panamera 4S Diesel. All of them have been equipped with a permanent all-wheel drive system and a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK). A V8 petrol engine that delivers 541bhp powers the Panamera Turbo and a V6 petrol engine with 434bhp drives the Panamera 4S. In the Panamera 4S Diesel, a V8 unit develops 415bhp of power and a maximum torque of 850 Nm.
Being a Porsche product, the new Panamera is also expected to be priced premium. The base model in India may cost Rs. 1.30 crore when launched.