2011 Porsche Panamera Review

2011 Porsche Panamera Review-The dual exhaust terminates in single versions of the Porsche Panamera Turbo's split tailpipes. The Porsche Panamera S has two round pipes per side. Five-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels are standard, as are black brake calipers. The Porsche Panamera S has silver calipers, and the Turbo's are red.
Sports car handling, German engineering, Porsche styling and...The Panamera again has strayed well outside Porsche's well-trodden sports car heritage to become one of the world's best sports sedans.

The 2011 Porsche Panamera is no four-door coupe, like the Aston Martin Rapide or the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but a true "gran turismo," with tremendous power, great handling, and ample room for four real-world adults.

Even the characteristically sleek Porsche front and rear fender styling can't distract from the lack of proportion; the imbalance is accentuated by the low nose, which draws attention to the awkward rear profile. The 2011 Panamera models for enthusiasts and true Porschephiles and track hounds remain the Panamera S, with its 400-horsepower, direct-injection 4.8-liter V-8 engine, making a peak 369 pound-feet, and the Panamera Turbo, which makes a stout 500 horsepower and 516 lb-ft.

Power in this front-engine car is sent to either the rear wheels or all four wheels through a seven-speed, dual clutch PDK automatic transmission that uses Porsche's push-pull shift levers. Open the Panamera up on a road course at 140 mph and you'll find the 911's flat-six ripple replaced with a more industrial-sounding whir that's still distinctly Porsche.

From the front seats forward it doesn't take much imagination to think that you're in an exceptionally plush Porsche 911.

The 2011 Porsche Panamera ranks 2 out of 11 Super Luxury Cars. Now in its second model year, the 2011 Porsche Panamera continues to impress the automotive press with its performance and luxurious interior. Despite offering the comfort and convenience shoppers expect from a super luxury car, the Panamera still manages impressive performance. First, the automotive press isn’t in love with the Panamera’s appearance. Porsche has a long options list for the Panamera, and tacking on options can make an already expensive car even pricier.

The Panamera is unique among super luxury cars. It offers a luxurious interior that cars like the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class can match, yet these cars struggle to match the Panamera in terms of performance. Starting at just under $71,000, the BMW 7-Series is less expensive, and more powerful than the base Panamera.

For 2011, the Porsche Panamera is available in a total of five trims: V6-powered Panamera, V8-powered S, the hybrid/supercharged V6 Panamera S Hybrid, and top-of-the-line Turbo and Turbo S models. S Hybrid, base and S models are rear-wheel drive, while Turbo and Turbo S models put power to all four wheels.For a bit under $75,000, the base Panamera includes an adaptive suspension, rear park assist, sunroof, power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation, eight-way power heated front seats, and an 11-speaker stereo system. Like all Porsche models, adding options can cause the Panamera’s price to skyrocket, and reviewers agree that you should choose options carefully.