Cathedral Peak - The Panamera Diesel is the fuel-friendly model in Porsche’s sports limousine range and, although it doesn’t have the big-hitting power of the range-topping Turbo S, the oil-burner was recently given a shot of extra urge.
Internal revisions to the three-litre V6 turbodiesel engine, along with a new water-cooled turbocharger that boosts at three bar (up from 2.5), has increased power by 37kW and torque by 100Nm for healthy new outputs of 221kW and 650Nm. The result is a claimed 0-100km/h time of six seconds (quicker than before by eight-tenths), with top speed improving from 244 to 259km/h.
The transmission and chassis have also been retuned to give the car a more athletic feel, with the anti-roll bars on the front and rear axle slightly more rigid.
To match the extra power the Panamera Diesel now features an electronically-controlled rear-axle differential lock with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) as standard for the first time. Until now this feature was reserved for the petrol models.
At low to medium speeds the PTV Plus improves agility and steering precision; at high speeds and when accelerating out of bends, it delivers greater driving stability. Boaters will also be pleased to learn the Panamera Diesel can also now handle towing loads of up to 2600kg.
We took the Panamera Diesel for a weekend jaunt to Drakensberg’s Cathedral Peak, and the car whisked us down the long stretch of N3 in comfort and cocooned silence.
If some people still believe diesel engines belong only in trucks and tractors, this swift but hushed powerplant should douse their prejudices. With the maximum 650Nm on call between just 1750rpm and 2500rpm, it’s a low-revving limousine that purrs up steep hills without requiring harsh pedal inputs. But give the throttle a jab and the big diesel Porsche overtakes long trucks quicker than you can say “watch out for the speed trap”.
The best thing I can subjectively say about the Panamera’s styling is that it’s become less objectionable to me over the years, but I have nothing but praise for the passenger cell beneath the sheetmetal. It’s pure business-class with stretch-out legroom and luxury trimmings.
After the monotonous trek from Johannesburg down the N3, the twisty and bumpy approach road to Cathedral Peak was a good opportunity to test the car’s handling and ride quality.
On those scarred and snaking roads, pockmarked with occasional potholes, the German luxo-barge made the grade in both disciplines.
Though you can always feel its mass, the Panamera’s a quick-turning car with a sporty demeanour, and it doesn’t wallow in sharp turns. This is achieved without the ride being over-firm, and the big car glides over the rough stuff with impressive bump-soaking poise. For smoother twisty roads, the suspension can be stiffened at the press of a button.
There are also Sport and Sport Plus modes which, along with firming up the ride, adopt a more dynamic transmission response for instant acceleration in any gear.
New gear ratios in the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission make for a lower-revving car with a claimed fuel consumption of only 6.4 litres per 100km - only up by one-tenth of a litre despite the power hike. We couldn’t match Porsche’s claimed figure but our test car averaged eight litres which is still pretty good for a big luxury limo.
NOW PORSCHE BUILDS A PEDAL-POWERED MODEL
A bicycle makes an ideal accessory to the active Porsche owner, and the German firm offers three different cycles – two road bikes and one mountain bike – for those in the mood for a little self-propulsion.
We took the Porsche Bike RX mountain bike along on our Drakensberg jaunt with the Panamera; it’s a 27.5 incher which is the new “inbetweener” size between the more traditional 26” and 29” mountain-bike offerings. This wheel size is said to be the ideal compromise, giving a smoother-rolling ride than a 26 but with better acceleration and tight-corner manoeuvrability than a 29.
The other big selling point of the 20-speed hardtail RX is that it has a carbonfibre frame and weighs only 10kg. It features top-notch components including Shimano XTR gearshift, DT-Swiss XMM 100 with remote lock-out air based suspension fork, and powerful Magura MT26 disc brakes.
Crankbrothers Cobalt 2 wheels and Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres complete the premium-spec picture.
The Porsche Bike RX gave a good account of itself on the hilly mountain-bike trail at Cathedral Peak, and its low mass was a particularly fatigue-reducing feature on the steeper climbs. I could feel the improved ride quality compared to the 26” bike I usually ride, but the Porsche’s larger wheels didn’t seem to make it any clumsier in tighter, twistier sections.
The gears snicked with precision and the hydraulic disc brakes were incredibly sharp.
The R64 000 price-tag isn’t for sissies, but then it is the cheapest new Porsche you can buy. - Star Motoring
FACTS
Porsche Panamera Diesel
Engine: Three-litre, V6 turbodiesel
Gearbox: Eight-speed Tiptronic automatic
Power: 221kW @ 4000rpm
Torque: 650Nm from 1750-2500rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 6.0 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 259km/h
Consumption (claimed): 6.4 litres per 100km
Price: R1 034 000
ALTERNATIVES
Audi A7 3.0 TDI BiT quattro (230kW/650Nm) - R972 000
BMW 640d Gran Coupe (230kW/630Nm) - R1 086 668
Maserati Ghibli Diesel (201kW/600Nm) - R1 281 000
Mercedes-Benz CLS350 BlueTec (190kW/370Nm) R895 257