The first time I heard that Porsche was taking the four-door plunge with its Panamera, a chill went up my spine. For me, a Porsche is the very essence of a sports car, a machine that blazes through every corner and makes each outing a special one.
Indeed, I had the opportunity, during my career, to get behind the wheel of a racing Porsche kicking out over 700 hp. I had to learn to control first, and its aggressiveness was quite impressive. In fact, the car actually set itself ablaze while I was driving it, but that’s a story for another day.
Imagine, then, my lack of enthusiasm when I took the wheel of a Porsche Panamera. I thought the manufacturer had just created the quintessential car for those that are only interested in boasting about owning a Porsche. And then, imagine my surprise when once on the road I actually found myself nothing less than impressed.
Uninspiring style
Straight off the bat, I have to admit that the Panamera’s style really isn’t my cup of tea. The front looks a little too much like the Cayenne SUV, a few centimetres up from the ground: it’s easily recognizable but not necessarily attractive.
Add to that a back end that’s all curves and an overall length so big that the car was longer than the family minivan, and you get a weird impression. Then, once you’ve gotten used to it, it simply seems like it has mixed personalities, like an elite athlete decked out a tailcoat. There’s something wrong with Sydney Crosby in a tux.
The cabin makes up for the body though, as its fit, finish and ergonomics are nothing short of spectacular. The huge centre console literally houses every single control you can dream up. But it does so in a very user-friendly and beautiful way.
Even better, the console stretches back all the way to the rear seats, giving passengers all the space they need. Throw in extremely comfortable seats, both front and back, and a flawless driving position, and you get one of the best cabins of the year. On the flip side, the colour scheme of my tester was corpse pale. It just got dirtier and dirtier as our retinue of journalists tried out the car, and there was nothing we could do about it.
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| Despite its many advantages, the Panamera is more of a street car than a racing machine. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert, Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com) |
Indeed, I had the opportunity, during my career, to get behind the wheel of a racing Porsche kicking out over 700 hp. I had to learn to control first, and its aggressiveness was quite impressive. In fact, the car actually set itself ablaze while I was driving it, but that’s a story for another day.
Imagine, then, my lack of enthusiasm when I took the wheel of a Porsche Panamera. I thought the manufacturer had just created the quintessential car for those that are only interested in boasting about owning a Porsche. And then, imagine my surprise when once on the road I actually found myself nothing less than impressed.
Uninspiring style
Straight off the bat, I have to admit that the Panamera’s style really isn’t my cup of tea. The front looks a little too much like the Cayenne SUV, a few centimetres up from the ground: it’s easily recognizable but not necessarily attractive.
Add to that a back end that’s all curves and an overall length so big that the car was longer than the family minivan, and you get a weird impression. Then, once you’ve gotten used to it, it simply seems like it has mixed personalities, like an elite athlete decked out a tailcoat. There’s something wrong with Sydney Crosby in a tux.
The cabin makes up for the body though, as its fit, finish and ergonomics are nothing short of spectacular. The huge centre console literally houses every single control you can dream up. But it does so in a very user-friendly and beautiful way.
Even better, the console stretches back all the way to the rear seats, giving passengers all the space they need. Throw in extremely comfortable seats, both front and back, and a flawless driving position, and you get one of the best cabins of the year. On the flip side, the colour scheme of my tester was corpse pale. It just got dirtier and dirtier as our retinue of journalists tried out the car, and there was nothing we could do about it.
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| The huge centre console literally houses every single control you can dream up. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert, Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com) |