Geneva Motor Show, Ned Jasper, Porsche
Ned Jasper | 2017 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
Posted by EngageSportMode on March 5, 2017 March 5, 2017
Ned Jasper is back, and he's got the latest on the latest addition to the Porsche model range. It's not rear-engined, but there's certainly a lot going on out back!
I'm told that good things come to those who wait. So, considering the Panamera Sport Turismo is the first Porsche estate car to leave Stuttgart since the company was founded back in 1931. It better be good! Thankfully, the first impressions are good. Very very good. The front half of the Sport Turismo is near enough identical to a 'normal' Panamera. That means handsome looks and road presence akin to that of a supercar.
But it's what happens around the back that matters. Gone is the standard Panamera's slopping 911-esque roof line. In its place, is in my eyes, the best looking car rear end not just of the year, but of the last decade. The Porsche design language remains clear, with hints of 911 and Macan showing face. However, the combination of the squatted rear, combined with the giant muscular haunches, is just so spot on.
The interior of the Sport Turismo remains near identical to that of the standard Panamera. That means svelte materials, contemporary shapes and angles, plus there's a colour scheme almost as rich as the kind of person who can afford to buy one. Who knew brown could look so good, eh? Move towards the rear and you'll begin to notice the differences. Or should I say, the difference! With the Sport Turismo being an estate after all, it was only right of Porsche to fit a proper rear bench. It seats three, and is capable of folding flat in 40:20:40 sections. Practical.
Despite the rather large exterior changes, the boot space isn't too dissimilar to that of the standard Panamera, with the ST boasting just 25 litres extra space. That's about the same size as a medium suitcase. The total room available is 520 litres or 1,390 with the rear seats folded down – Panamera van, anyone?!
Under the bonnet are the same engine options as in the standard Panamera, only this time they're all mated to Porsche's four-wheel drive technology. So that's two 3.0-litre V6 Turbos with 327bhp standard, and 434bhp in S guise. There's also a 416bhp diesel, along with an E-hybrid capable of 113mpg. But most importantly there's the quick one, sporting a 4.0-litre V8 Turbo with 542bhp, and a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds with launch control enabled. Clearly the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo is the one to have.
The Sport Turismo runs at a roughly £3,000 premium over the standard car. Prices start at £73,000, and finish close to £180,000, should you get a little too excited with the options list. I mean, who doesn't need personalised carbon fibre floor mats?
But wait, there's more. Before we finish with the Sport Turismo, there are two key things you need to know. The first, being that this car is a huge kick in the teeth to all the car manufacturers that think 'there isn't a market for a large sporty premium estate and an SUV in the same range'. Porsche now offers the Cayenne, the Macan and the Sport Turismo!
So, car makers, please make more sporty estates! Cough, Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW M5 Cough.
The second key thing to note, is that the Sport Turismo shows that Porsche are now playing around with the Panamera platform. That means more variants could be in the pipeline. A 928-esque coupé perhaps?
2017 Geneva Motor Show2017 Porsche Panamera Sport TurismoPanameraPanamera Turbo Sport TurismoPorschePorsche PanameraPorsche Panamera Sport Turismo
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Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, I'm with you on this one Ned, beautiful looking car. flo