FUTURE CLASSIC
274 Classic & Sports Car September 2019T
hisis a carthatwon’tsitwellwith
all,notleastPorschepurists.Not
onlyis it a four-door– technically
anestate,infact– butits4-litre
twin-turboV8is boostedbyan
electricmotor.Yegads.Yetthisis a carthatwill
beattheMercedesSLRMcLarenfeaturedlast
monthto60mphbya fulltwotenths,andwill
carrythekidsandluggageinsheercomfort.
Andinsteadof thecynicismof owninganexces-
sivelybigChelseaTractor,comeskudos.
That’snottosaythisfive-seat(ish)Panamera
TurboS E-HybridSportTurismoisn’tbig–
thoselasttwowordsadd 20 litresofbootspace
comparedtothestandard405-litrePanamera.
Butonceinthecomfortablysnugdrivingposi-
tionthecarsoonshrinks,andit’sonlywhenyou
lookleftthatyourealiseanycorrespondence
withyourpassengerwillcostyoua stamp.
Porscheandfour-doorsis nota modern-day
matter,mind.TexanWilliamDickcontracted
Troutman-Barnesto converta 911forhiswifeas
farbackas1967.Porschereactedbycommis-
sioninga Pininfarinaversionandanin-house
915,onlyfortheboardtosignoffthe 928
instead.Inthelate1980sPorscheworkedupa
four-door 989 conceptthatwithhindsightreally
leakedthe996,whileGiugiarostyleda stillborn
932 saloonat thesametime.Bothremainedbut
a footnoteuntilthe 2009 Panamera.FUTURECLASSIC
Weissach’sfirstestatecarfitsafamily,withoutthedreaded‘performanceSUV’tag
WORDS JACK PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY WILL WILLIAMS/JOHN BRADSAHWA decade later came the hybrid, rolling in
amid the fanfare of World (Endurance) domina-
tion, benefiting from those Le Mans wins and
supposedly sharing technology. Plugging in
overnight or charging on the go, just like Mark
Webber & Co, provides 20 miles’ running in one
stint. But it will also boost your getaways with
instant power and take over in traffic with low-
speed electric motoring, until the quad pipes fire
up and growl that the V8 has got it from here.
Explain that its genesis is in the ’60s, it was
revived in the ’80s and since refined on the race-
track, and you have your counterargument to the
naysayers. Place them in the driver’s seat and it’s
game set and match, for this is also the third-
most-powerful Porsche road car ever.
Despite knowing the numbers (a 3.4 secs
0-62mph time and 671bhp output), its perfor-
mance is staggering. The digital speed counter
barely even tries to keep up, and it’s the mid-
range leap that is perhaps the most startling,
turning other cars to but a speck in the mirror.
The PDK transmission quietly does its work
unnoticed, still the best ’box around, while the
various settings turn the Panamera from distance
cruiser to flat-cornering sports car, and petrol
consumption even tips 30mpg. It’s a remarkable
thing, quicker than its cheaper rival Mercedes-
AMG E63, yet it’s no 911 in terms of spectacle.
But that’s the trade off. It’s time for acceptance.PORSCHE PANAMERA
FACTFILE
Engine twin-turbo 3996cc V8 hybrid;
671bhp @ 6000-6250rpm; 627lb ft @
1400-5500rpm Transmission eight-
speed dual-clutch auto, RWD
0-62mph 3.4 secs Top speed 192mph
Mpg 72.4-74.3 Price £140,870