Porsche Panamera minor change

All Porsches in the world are ugly and the Porsche Panamera looks more like a mangled ape. You might think that the ugliest Porsches of all would alienate buyers to its rivals, especially the Aston Martin Rapide and the Maserati Quattroporte but you were wrong because back in 2011, it seems that United States sold more Panameras than any other countries where it sold while the US city that sold the most was Los Angeles with 890 Panamera units sold. I can't believe that why rich wealthy American playboys took into consideration of buying one but never mind about that because what I heard, the ugliest Porsche of them all...gets a makeover and I'm not sure what's the outcome for this...

2014 Porsche Panamera

Well, for this minor change, the premium design that looks like a mangled ape, still looks like a mangled ape even though the Panamera minor change gained some new front and rear bumpers and some internal changes occurred for the updated model.

Let's start at the S variant because in the pre-facelifted model, it carries a 4.8L V8 which generates 400HP of power and a top speed of 177mph but for the new Panamera S model, as well as its 4WD derivative, the 4S, downsizing is now a thing of a present because now, the 4.8L V8 has been thrown away for good as well as its 6-speed manual transmission and inject it with a smaller 3.0L V6 twin turbo engine mated with a 7-speed PDK gearbox so the main things you'll be noticing on this downsizing are these: 20hp more power and 20Nm more torque, but up to 18 per cent better fuel economy compared to the V8 engine in the previous model.

Not bad for a downsized engine but I still find it disappointing that the 6-speed gearbox as seen on the old model has been thrown away for good so where's the fun at with this double-clutch gearbox? Although, this gearbox provides quicker shift times than the old manual, it's still just not worth it and yes, there's going to be a major trouble around here in the event of parking this car.

2014 Porsche Panamera

There are other updates for the new model as well such as the base model's 3.6L V6 model which now produces 310HP of power, annoyingly less powerful and slower than the new Maserati Quattroporte S Q4's 3-litre V6 engine. Then, the stripped-out GTS version gets a 10HP up to its 4.8L V8 engine while mated with a 7-speed PDK, developing a top speed of 179mph. Lastly, and the only powerful of its range for now, the Panamera Turbo's 4.8L V8 twin turbo engine gained a 20HP increase and the top speed is now 190mph, that's the same top speed as the Aston Martin Rapide S.

There are no changes to the diesel model, which has a 3.0L V6 turbodiesel engine that develops 250HP of power, 550Nm of torque, 152mph of top speed, and 166g/km of CO2 emissions.

2014 Porsche Panamera

For the 4S and Turbo models, there's now, for the first time, a long wheelbase version called the Executive and for this model, it adds 150mm of its wheelbase, making the rear legroom a little bit longer, which is ideal is some countries, especially China because in the Chinese car industry, space in the back matters more than anything else and, while this is only a hunch, those who bought these prefer to be chauffeured.

Yes, the Executive model of the Panamera is built for those who cares about space in the back and prefered to be chauffeured but since being chauffeured is not part of the new Panamera's character-building traits, let's find out more about its driving dynamics and find out what's like to be a driver's car.

When someone calls you that they don't like looking at your car, you'll be on a great shock that you'd notice that you've been driving such an ugly car on the streets and even if you want to make some noise in the tunnels, it seems a bit more quiet even when you make some revs. Seems that Silence has fallen with this one, if you know what I mean? Yep, Silence has fallen for the new Panamera when it comes to be a head-turning sports saloon but in terms of track days, when you are against the new Maserati Quattroporte and the Aston Martin Rapide S, it's really not that bad. I know, its 7-speed PDK maybe a royal pain in my fingers but it's still worth a fun to drive premium saloon car and when this car gets it right, it can easily eat both the new Quattroporte and the new Rapide S in terms of setting a lap time.

2014 Porsche Panamera

Most Porsches are ugly and they're not exciting to look at but they are durable and tough and that wins in the end and in the new Panamera, although it may look like a mangled ape, it may not look durable and tough because of its risk of recalls but because of its 911 inspirations, it behaves more like a track weapon rather than a car built for those who want to be chauffeured. It maybe a big car but its a definite wild car for those who want to fool around all day long.

Mind you, the new Panamera still comes with an almost perfect weight distribution, the lowest center of gravity of any big saloon and its lighter than any premium saloon rather than the featherweight Jaguar XJR. It even comes with magnesium window frames to keep the lard at bay. With all that and in the corners, it's an unfair science fair redux but that's just another story. I mean, even if it has flaws, it doesn't matter. I think I'm going to like this more than the BMW M5 and because it has a turbocharged V8 engine in the lineup, I am well impressed by its stunning behavior as well as its footwork needed. Despite the 6-speed MT is gone for good for this facelift, it's still a wonderful chemistry.

Be warned though, even if its fast car, you'll never gonna win in a race against an incoming parcel. I'm just saying...

Photo: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.