APRIL 2019 | CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK 97cocooned, and the infotainment displays look the cleanest here, the
glassy central widescreen flowing into the digital instrument cluster
(although still with an analogue revcounter in the centre) more neatly
than in the other two. It’s a quicker system to learn than that of the AMG,
although not without its quirks; the main touchscreen feels like it’s not
quite calibrated accurately, seemingly responding more easily to a finger
prod just off-centre than to one that’s bang on.
The lack of physical buttons on the gloss-black console around the gear
selector makes it look uncluttered in comparison with the AMG but it
takes a while to memorise its layout so you can use it without taking your
eyes off the road. Of our three cars, I’d argue the Alpina’s iDrive system is
the safest, most user-friendly media set-up, if the least avant garde.
The Porsche cabin’s an event for rear passengers. This car is fitted with
optional rear-seat entertainment, which connects two removable tablet
screens to the main infotainment system via a WLAN link, allowing
rear passengers to browse the internet, play with apps or check in on
the car’s vital stats – tyre pressures, fuel range and its current speed – so
no Panamera pilot is safe from back-seat drivers. The upshot is that the
Porsche feels special whichever seat you’re in, the overall atmosphere
akin to a particularly low-flying private jet. It’s worth mentioning that
the Mercedes is also available with a rear-seat multimedia package.
Boot space is broadly comparable to the AMG; neither Panamera nor
GT 4 Door can match the Alpina’s boot for volume, although their hatch
doors have it beaten for accessibility.
Of the three the Panamera feels most like a sports car; low-set driving
position, measured and accurate feedback from the steering wheel. It’s
more responsive than the Alpina, and less immediate than the Mercedes,
but similarly precise. The Panamera can’t completely disguise its weight,
of course, and brake feel is occasionally slightly inconsistent, as with
many hybrids, but it’s a very convincing package overall. ⊲
The cabin’s a real event for
passengers, so the Porsche feels
special whichever seat you’re in
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING PORSCHE PANAMERALow-slung
Porsche blends
analogue and
digital wellWhy is it here?
It’s sitting pretty (well,
pretty-ish) at the top
of the four-door coupe
grand tourer pile
(okay, five doors if you
count the tailgate).
Like the AMG it has
a turbocharged V8,
spellbinding handling
and a swoopy roof; it’s
the benchmark.Any clever stuff?
Oh yes. Networked
chassis control,
adaptive airsuspension, torque
vectoring, anti-roll
control. And adaptive
aero courtesy of the
magic rear spoiler,
assembling itself from
its hiding place like
an aerofoil-shaped
Transformer.Which version is this?
This is the regular
saloon-style
Panamera; it’s also
available in quasi-
estate Sport Turismo
shooting brake
form. The line-up isvast. Conventionally
engined models start
with the V6 Panamera
4, then the quicker
4S, driver-focused V8
GTS, and super-quick
Turbo. Hybrids kick
off with the V6 4
E-Hybrid; this is the
V8 Turbo S E-Hybrid.
There’s no diesel.