Graceful, elegant, stylish and powerful. This describes the long-awaited 2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo, perhaps the most prestigious of sedans the carmaker has created to date. The new four-door model fully delivers, and should, given that the expected price tag out the door is a meager $146,000.
Such lofty spending does come, however, with its array of perks. Namely, a 4.0-liter engine that has two turbochargers and direction injection with cylinder-deactivation. In plain English, this means that Porsche has taken the four-cylinder engine to new NASA-like heights, able to churn out an unbelievable 550 horsepower with 567 pound-feet of torque. It's controlled by an eight-speed transmission that boasts all-wheel-drive which effortlessly floats on air suspension.
Available upgrades include rear axle steering and electronically controlled anti-roll. Add night vision and you'll be able to detect people and animals via the infra-red system, all which amazingly coordinate with your integrated collision mitigation system and GPS.
As far as speed goes, its fast. Lightning fast. With a weight at 4,398 pounds, the Panamera Turbo does zero-to-60 in an impressive 3.6 seconds, making it one of the fastest four-door sedans ever created.
Would you expect anything less from Porsche?
The interior is as fancy as the technology motivating it.
Inside, you'll find premium leather upholstery with cross-stitching, 12.3" touchscreen console with integrated Wi-Fi, smartphone integration, Bluetooth/iPod/USB ready, twin 7" screens for the driver that are separated by tachometers with leather, wood and chrome interior trim accents, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlamps, parking sensors (both front and rear), powered liftgate, automated climate control, premium Burmester sound system, and even refrigerated compartments that chill your glasses and beverages.
Yep, all of these amazing amenities point to Porsche. Of course, they're piggybacked by an equally as audacious price tag. As far as ultra-luxury sedans come, there are a few others that stack up. But for those who have their hearts bent on this particular nameplate, they certainly won't be disappointed with what it has to offer, even if they scowl when they receive their auto bill in the mail each month.