Porsche Panamera Turbo S (2012)

Porsche Panamera Turbo S

With its new top model in the Gran Turismo model line, Porsche is raising the bar for sporty four-door cars in the luxury class by yet another notch. The new Porsche Panamera Turbo S is a unique combination of performance and efficiency, driving dynamics and comfort. Despite the increased power and higher torque, fuel consumption values remain at the moderate level of the Panamera Turbo - yet another example of "Porsche Intelligent Performance".

Even for a top luxury class model, Porsche's new top-of-the-range Panamera boasts an extraordinarily comprehensive equipment level. For example, in keeping with the high performance Panamera's sporty concept, it features the sports exhaust system as standard for an even more emotional engine sound as well as every driving dynamics control system that there is for the Gran Turismo. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), an active rollstabilisation system, nips in the bud the vehicle's tendency to lean when cornering, thus enhancing agility and comfort in equal measure. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) applies a variable torque split to the rear wheels combined with an electronically controlled rear differential lock, thus ensuring superior traction in every driving situation. The steering system uses the speed-dependent Servotronic. It goes without saying that the suspension of the Panamera Turbo S features the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damper control and adaptive air suspension with additional air volume.

The sporty character of the new Porsche Panamera Turbo S is apparent not just in its performance but is also reflected on the exterior. The 20-inch 911 Turbo II wheels with increased rear axle track width, side skirts from the Porsche Exclusive range and the adaptive extending four-way rear spoiler in the exterior colour ensure particularly sporty performance and look. The fusion of exclusivity and sportiness is conveyed in the interior by the bi-colour leather finish, featured as standard. The new combination of black/cream is offered exclusively for the Panamera Turbo S with agate grey/cream also being added as an exclusive combination from autumn 2011.

Power unit with torque in abundance

The Porsche Panamera Turbo S engine is essentially identical to the Panamera Turbo's supercharged 4.8-litre, eight-cylinder engine delivering 500 hp (368 kW). The 50 hp (37 kW) increase in the power of the Turbo S engine to 550 hp (405 kW) can be traced to two main developments: Improved turbochargers with titanium-aluminium turbine wheels and modified engine control. The use of the innovative titanium-aluminium alloy reduces the weight of the turbine wheel to half the weight of the conventional Inconel turbine wheel. This results in a lower moment of inertia and thus in improved and more agile engine responsiveness. The result: As with the power, the maximum torque also increased from 700 to 750 Nm in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S. In the "Sport" and "Sport Plus" modes of the Sport Chrono Package featured as standard and during kick-down in normal mode, the eight-cylinder engine even reaches 800 Nm with the so-called overboost function. The power pack is behind the new top-of-the-range Panamera's record sprint times in every sprint discipline: The Panamera Turbo S needs just 2.6 seconds for in-gear acceleration from 80 km/h (50 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph), managing the sprint from 100 km/h (62 mph) to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.1 seconds.

Designed in accordance with Porsche Intelligent Performance principles, the Turbo S engine offers not just more power and performance but also requires no more fuel than the Panamera Turbo for the same required performance. In addition to the basic design of the Porsche eight-cylinder engine, the biturbo V8's relatively low fuel consumption can be attributed to a whole string of detailed measures. On-board electrical system recuperation for example increases efficiency, with the battery being charged predominantly during braking or coasting phases. On the other hand when the car is accelerating, the alternator's charging current is reduced - the load on the engine is eased because it needs to supply less power for charging the battery. This power is then also available for acceleration. This is complemented by the auto start/stop function that kicks in when the vehicle is stationary and enables the vehicle to move off quickly and comfortably following stop phases.

Sport Chrono Package Turbo and new acceleration display

The Porsche Panamera Turbo S features the Sport Chrono Package Turbo as standard, tuning the engine and chassis by pressing the additional "Sport Plus" button, making them even sportier. Additionally, in the "Sport" and "Sport Plus" mode and during kick-down in normal mode, the overboost function is activated, temporarily increasing boost pressure. This increase in boost pressure significantly increases the maximum torque from 750 to 800 Nm, delivering more powerful acceleration and sprint speeds in the process. Moreover, the "Launch Control" racing start function ensures the best possible acceleration when moving off by optimally coordinating engine control and the PDK shift program.

The Porsche Panamera Turbo S is being brought to market with a new driving dynamics display in the right-hand tube of the instrument cluster. It provides the driver with a corresponding display of both instantaneous and maximum longitudinal and lateral acceleration. The driving performance of the Panamera Turbo S is therefore not just noticeable but visible as well. From autumn 2011 onwards the driving dynamics display will also be included as a new function in the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system.

Driveline concept: Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) and active all-wheel drive

The new top model shares with the Panamera Turbo the driveline concept based on the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) and active all-wheel drive (Porsche Traction Management, PTM). The PDK combines the driving dynamics and very good mechanical efficiency of a manual transmission with the high level of gear selection and ride comfort of a conventional automatic transmission with no interruption to the power flow. To achieve this, it offers a manual mode including gear recommendation and an automatic mode. This enables the PDK to satisfy the Panamera customers' demands for both sportiness and comfort. As with the sports cars, the driver operates the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe using either the selector lever on the centre console or by means of two pushbuttons in the steering wheel spokes. A three-spoke sports steering wheel with shift paddles is also available at no extra cost. In manual gear change mode, the gear recommendation displayed in the instrument cluster assists economical driving.

PTM: All-wheel drive helps to apply power to the road

The benefits of Porsche's intelligent PTM all-wheel drive are particularly apparent in a high performance vehicle such as the Panamera Turbo S: Greater agility and driving dynamics, better traction and driving stability, enhanced vehicle control and driving safety when pushing the driving dynamics boundaries. Compared with conventional all-wheel drives, this is complemented by weight and fuel consumption benefits as a result of the compact design and improved driving performance as a result of the low centre of gravity.

Strictly speaking the smooth transitions make it impossible to differentiate between driving dynamics and traction. An example: Only if a vehicle has good traction, namely if the tyres don't develop excessive slip, is it possible to transmit cornering forces. What this means for the front axle is steerability and for the rear axle stability. Using PTM can reduce spinning of the drive wheels or ideally eliminate it altogether.

With the PTM in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, the active all-wheel drive is implemented as a controlled, so-called hang-on all-wheel drive system accommodated within the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe housing. The electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch handles the fully variable distribution of the propulsive force between the permanently driven rear axle and the front axle with no fixed standard distribution. Permanent monitoring of the driving state makes for a lightning fast response to different driving situations: Sensors continuously monitor the number of revs for all four wheels, the vehicle's longitudinal and lateral acceleration and steering angle, among other things. If for example the rear wheels start to spin when accelerating, the multiple-plate clutch intervenes more vigorously to transfer more propulsive force forwards. In corners only sufficient propulsive force ever reaches the front wheels to ensure optimal lateral support. When the brake control systems kick in, the PTM fully decouples the front axle to allow PSM interventions on individual wheels.

A broad spread of settings: from sporty to comfortable

The new Porsche Panamera Turbo S chassis features as standard all the systems that Porsche has developed and introduced for the sporty Gran Turismo. Underpinning everything is the combination of adaptive air suspension and adaptive damper control, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system. The PASM seamlessly varies the damper forces, adapting them to road surface conditions and the driving style. The driver can use the PASM chassis button on the centre console to choose between three settings - Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

In similar fashion, the adaptive air suspension enables an even wider spread of suspension characteristics by activating differential spring rates, offering very high ride comfort on the one hand and very sporty driving dynamics on the other. The adaptive air suspension features four air springs, each complemented by one integrated, controllable auxiliary volume for modifying the spring rate. If the driver selects the comfort setting, each individual air spring with its total air volume of approximately 2.2 litres ensures an especially soft ride that cossets the passengers, especially on long journeys. If on the other hand the driver prefers a sporty ride, closing a valve reduces the active volume to approximately 1.1 litres. This increases the spring rate; the spring travel characteristic curve becomes more progressive, thereby making the chassis tauter. The adjustment occurs in tandem with the PASM damping characteristic - PASM also switches to the Sport Plus program - thereby intensifying the driver's chosen chassis tuning. This makes for a wide variation in handling between comfortable and especially sporty. The adaptive air suspension in "Sport Plus" mode also lowers the body, further improving the Panamera's aerodynamics and centre of gravity, enhancing driving safety and reducing fuel consumption.

Featured as standard: PDCC and PTV Plus anti-roll system

With Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), twinned with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), the Panamera Turbo S features the most highly specified version of the Panamera chassis as standard. PDCC prevents the chassis from rolling about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle by using active stabilisers on the front and rear axle to apply a countervailing force. The system also improves the vehicle's balance by dynamically distributing the roll torque. The result: Ultimate agility in every driving speed range as well as optimal cornering behaviour and stable load transfer behaviour. The greater agility is achieved by the tyre always being in an ideal position relative to the road surface, thus optimising the build-up of lateral forces on the tyre. At the same time, the self-steering behaviour is selectively influenced by the variable roll torque distribution.

As a consequence of greater agility and lower lateral inclination, PDCC perceptibly improves driving performance, handling and driving comfort as well as driving stability. This is most apparent on winding roads and at high speed. When driving in a straight line the stabilisers are decoupled, causing the suspension to respond more sensitively to uneven road surfaces on one side, thus offering even greater comfort.

PDCC, PASM and air suspension are always jointly influenced by selecting one of the three chassis programs. With the comfort setting selected, PDCC with anti-roll disengaged emphasises comfort on uneven roads for a relaxed ride. In Sport and Sport Plus mode, the systems' active interventions influence articulation behaviour, maximum anti-roll support, self-steering behaviour and traction, thus ensuring maximum performance and agility.

PTV Plus for even more cornering pleasure

When it comes to driving dynamics the benefits of the PDCC are further emphasised by Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and the electronically controlled rear axle differential lock with variable locking effect. The system works by varying the torque distribution to the rear wheels and by employing an electronically regulated rear differential lock, optimising steering behaviour when being driven with a sporty driving style. Braking interventions applied to the inside rear wheel generate an additional rotational pulse in the direction in which the steering wheel has been turned. This results in a direct and dynamic steering action as the car enters the curve.

PTV Plus complements this by improving traction as required when experiencing high lateral acceleration, when accelerating on road surfaces with varying levels of grip and when accelerating out of tight corners. During load transfer when cornering, the vehicle's turning motion into the corner is less pronounced as a result of the countervailing yaw moment built up by the rear axle differential lock and straight-line stability is improved. The result is high lateral dynamic vehicle stabilisation - i.e. chassis stability - optimal traction and high agility at any speed with precise and stable load transfer behaviour.

High performance brakes, also available with ceramic discs as an option

The red brake callipers behind the wheels of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S announce the most powerful conventional brake system that Porsche installs on its Gran Turismos. The braking power on the front axle is provided by six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes and 390 millimetre composite brake discs. These brake discs are made from a light aluminium pot connected with the grey cast iron friction ring. This reduces the unsprung masses. Four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes and 350 millimetre diameter brake discs are fitted on the rear axle.

One of the few technical options that the Turbo S still leaves open, the race-proven and particularly efficient Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system with yellow-painted brake callipers, is available if desired. The front brake discs are 410 millimetres in diameter, the rear ones 350 millimetres. Compared with a brake system with grey cast iron discs, the PCCB responds faster, has very high fading stability thanks to constant frictional values giving it high safety reserves under heavy stresses. Also, the ceramic composite material reduces the weight to approximately half that of a conventional grey cast iron brake disc of comparable construction and size. This ensures better road grip, enhanced driving and ride comfort as well as greater agility and yet further improved handling.

Tyres and wheels: For optimum driving dynamics and efficiency

Thanks to the combination of large track widths and wide tyres with different front and rear tyre dimensions, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S exhibits sporty, agile, precise and safe handling when being driven with an especially dynamic driving style. This combination makes for high driving stability with little lateral inclination of the body and high lateral acceleration potential. To do justice to the high performance, Porsche's partners in the tyre industry developed special tyre specifications and specially tuned them to the Gran Turismo. The sizes of the 20 inch tyres featured as standard are 255/40 at the front and 295/35 at the rear.

Precise and comfortable steering: Servotronic

The series version of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S includes Servotronic, a speed-sensitive powersteering system, upgraded yet again for all Gran Turismos. The steering is taut at high speeds. Steering manoeuvres are extremely preciseaccompanied by a high level of stee ring comfort. Conversely, at low speeds, Servotronic makes for especially smooth manoeuvring and parking.

Sporty luxurious appearance through and through

The sporty character of the new Porsche Panamera Turbo S is also reflected on the exterior. The 20-inch 911 Turbo II wheels with coloured wheel hub covers, combined with increased rear axle track width achieved by five millimetre thick wheel spacers, ensure especially sporty performance and looks. The side skirts from the Porsche Exclusive range, featured as standard, lend the new top model additional visual width. An additional unique selling point of the Panamera family: The adaptive extending four-way rear spoiler is painted in the exterior colour, but is also available in black if desired. The overall impression is rounded off by the "Panamera turbo S" lettering on the rear. From autumn 2011 onwards, the new Panamera Turbo S will also be available at no extra cost in agate grey metallic paint, reserved exclusively for this model.

Highly sophisticated adaptive light system as standard

The Panamera Turbo S comes with a highly sophisticated Porsche adaptive light system, comprising Bi-Xenon headlights, dynamic and static cornering lights, auxiliary headlights, speed-dependent driving light control and adverse weather light. The dynamic cornering lights are activated at a speed of 10 km/h (6.2 mph) and above. The light con trol system swivels the main headlights by up to 15 degrees into the corner. The static cornering light activates an additional halogen light source with a beam angle of approxi mately 30 degrees to the direction of travel. It is activated by the indicator or steering angle when stationary and at speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph). That means for example that the kerb is better illuminated when turning into a side road. At higher speeds it is activated by the steering angle alone.

Compared with the basic dipped headlight setting, the country road light offers greater range when illuminating the left hand side of the road and a wider beam. At higher speeds the control system adapts the shape of the light cone. It extends it forward, thereby improving visibility without dazzling oncoming traffic. Motorway lighting is activated at speeds in excess of 130 km/h (81 mph) or faster than 110 km/h (68 mph) and a longer stretch of road with small steering angles. Motorways lighting increases the light output and establishes a more effective boundary between light and dark at higher speeds. The adverse weather light is activated when the rear fog light is switched on and reduces reflection in poor visibility conditions such as fog or snowfall.

Interior: Bi-colour leather finish and comfort seats

The fusion of exclusivity and sportiness is conveyed in the interior by the bi-colour leather finish, featured as standard. The new combination of black/cream is offered exclusively for the new Porsche Panamera Turbo S with agate grey/cream also being added as an exclusive combination from the autumn. The birch anthracite interior package and prominent Porsche crest on the front headrests provide the finishing touch to the interior of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S. The front door entry guards and instrument cluster are embellished with "turbo S" lettering for additional differentiation.

The 14-way adjustable front comfort seats featured as standard are combined with the Comfort Memory Package for excellent ride comfort. The Memory Package includes extending seat bottom as well as lumbar support and electric steering column adjustment. Front and rear seat heating is featured as standard; seat ventilation is available as an option. Adaptive sports seats based on this seat system and including Comfort Memory Package with raised seat side bolsters and electric 18-way adjustment are available as an option. At the rear, two single seats with folding centre armrest afford generous head and leg room even for tall passengers.

Top-notch sound enjoyment: BOSE® featured as standard, Burmester as an option

Porsche Panamera Turbo S passengers will enjoy the sound of the BOSE® Surround Sound-System specially developed for the Panamera and fitted as standard. A total of 14 loudspeakers, a 200-watt active subwoofer with a Class D output stage and 200 millimetre speaker diameter as well as nine amplifier channels ensure an impressive aural experience. Overall output is 585 watts.

If so desired it can be replaced by the optional Burmester® High-End Surround Sound- System. If so, a unique aural experience will be delivered by 16 loudspeakers, controlled by 16 amplifier channels with a total output of more than 1,000 watts, rounded off by a 250 millimetre active subwoofer with a 300 watt Class D amplifier.

Conceptually, the design of this sound system broke entirely new ground. The crossover technology used has been carried over more or less unmodified from the Burmester® home audio sector. Analogue and digital filters were finely tuned for their own individual intended purpose. Ribbon-based tweeters (Air-Motion-Transformers, AMT) specially for the Panamera are used at the front, recognisable by their unmistakably fine and clear highfrequency sound reproduction. The customised loudspeaker housings are precisely tailored to the Panamera and deliver the optimum bass foundation, definition and impulse accuracy. The result: even at the loudest volumes an as yet unequalled, natural and richly textured spatial sound. Lightweight construction plays an important role with the Panamera sound system as well. Meaning that the combined weight of all the components of the Burmester® system is less than twelve kilograms.

New option: Lane Change Assist system for enhanced safety and comfort

From summer 2011 onwards the Porsche Panamera Turbo S is available with the Lane Change Assist (LCA) system as a new option, which will be available at the same time for the other Gran Turismo models as well. The system uses two radar sensors in the rear bumper to monitor the lanes on the right and left up to 70 metres behind the vehicle, including the blind spots. The Lane Change Assist system therefore enhances safety and comfort, particularly on motorways. The Lane Change Assist system is available in the 30 to 250 km/h (19 to 155 mph) speed range.

Specifications of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S

• Displacement: 4,806 cc
• Bore: 96.0 mm
• Stroke: 83.0 mm
• Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
• Engine Power: 405 kW (550 hp) at 6,000 rpm
• Max. Torque: 750 Nm at 2,250-4,500 rpm with overboost 800 Nm at 2,500-4,000 rpm
• Power Output per Litre: 84.3 kW/litre (114.4 hp/litre)
• Maximum Revs: 6,700 rpm
• Fuel Type: Premium Plus
• Dimensions
  • Length: 4,970 mm
  • Width: 1,931 mm
  • Height: 1,418 mm
  • Wheelbase: 2,920 mm
  • Track width
    • Front: 1,646 mm
    • Rear: 1,642 mm
  • Luggage compartment volume according to VDA: 432 to 1,250 litres
  • Fuel tank capacity: 100 litres
  • Unladen weight, DIN: 1,995 kg
  • Permissible gross weight: 2,500 kg
  • Permissible roof load: 75 kg
• Performance
  • Top speed: 306 km/h (190.1 mph)
  • 0-100 km/h: (62 mph) 3.8 s
  • 0-160 km/h: (99 mph) 8.3 s
  • 0-200 km/h: (124 mph) 12.9 s
  • 0-1,000 metres: (3,2801 ft) 21.6 s
• Fuel Consumption
  • Urban: 17.0 litres/100 km
  • Extra urban: 8.4 litres/100 km
  • Combined: 11.5 litres/100 km
  • CO2 Emissions: Total 270 (265) g/km
  • Emission Category: Euro 5