’24 Panamera: Goodbye, wagon; hello, active hydraulic suspension
The third-generation lineup of the Porsche Panamera will arrive for the 2024 model year minus one player: The Panamera Sport Turismo, the slick wagon version that was added six years ago.
Porsche said slow sales were the reason for the discontinuation: “In China and the U.S., our main markets in the D segment, the Sport Turismo plays only a minor role. For this reason, we have decided to discontinue this model variant with the launch of the new generation,” Porsche said.
The rest of the news is good about the 2024 Panamera, which made its debut in Shanghai this weekend. There’s a “fresh and expressive” design outside, and inside, a wide range of digital features. Porsche hasn’t yet released a list of U.S.-specific data, so some of these figures may change for this market.
Hydraulic-electric Active Ride Suspension System, which limits body roll, is new. It uses a hydraulic pump and electric motor at each wheel, which senses pending body roll and, in what Porsche says is a “lightning fast” manner, compensates for it. The system is optional on several models of the Panamera. Rear steer is also optional.
Porsche plans to offer four different E-Hybrid powertrains, responding to “healthy demand” from customers for electric-assist in the Panamera. All E-Hybrid variants profit from more capable hybrid technology that offers more power, greater range, and improved efficiency. The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid is the first model to be introduced and will come equipped with a completely revamped 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 paired with an electric motor generating 140 kW (187 hp) which is powered by a 25.9 kWh battery. Total power is 670 hp and 685 lb-ft of torque.
The electric motor is integrated into the housing of the heavily updated eight-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission. By ditching a separate housing, engineers saved around 11 pounds of weight. The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds and tops out at 195 mph.
At launch, Panamera and Panamera 4 models will also be available. Their 2.9-liter V-6 turbo engine features optimized boost pressure, injection volume, and ignition timing. As a result, the V-6 now develops 348 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque—an increase of 23 hp and 37 lb-ft compared to the previous engine. This increase in power helps the Panamera to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and improves the top track speed to 169 mph. The all-wheel-drive Panamera 4 reaches 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and has a top track speed of 168 mph.
The new Panamera, Porsche says, retains its characteristic lines and proportions. Its “fundamentally revamped appearance lends the sports sedan an even more expressive and sporting look. Up front, an additional air intake above the number plate compensates for the increased air requirement of the drive systems. The redesigned window line in the sideview reinforces the sedan character of the four-door sports car. The outer edges of the rear window are flush with the contour of the body, creating harmonious lines at the rear of the car.”
For the Turbo E-Hybrid, there’s a distinctive rear fascia with painted diffuser panels and a unique front fascia in body color. There are also chrome-plated tailpipes in dark bronze and optional center-lock wheels, which can also be specified on the other models.
Inside, the new Panamera “will become an integral part of the driver’s digital ecosystem. To log in with their personal Porsche ID, all customers need to do is scan a QR code displayed in the PCM with their smartphone.”
The 2024 Porsche Panamera starts at $99,900, not including a $1650 delivery processing and handling fee, while the Panamera 4 begins at $106,900. Both models are expected to reach U.S. Porsche Centers in Spring 2024. Specifics on the U.S. pricing and arrival timing of the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid will be announced at a later date.
***
Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.
