Actually, you’ve seen it already courtesy of a massive leak we posted just last week. That was a spicy Turbo model flaunting its sleeker body with a much improved rear end. Many will agree that’s the biggest design issue of the outgoing model, but thankfully Porsche has addressed the problem and has come up with a far more appealing look. The rest of the styling takes the evolutionary route and doesn’t stray away too much from the Panamera you see on the road today.
From a technical point of view, the second-gen Panamera is making the switch to the MSB platform and in Turbo guise will be powered by a brand new biturbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. It’s loosely based on Audi’s turbo 3.0-liter V6 found inside the S4, but adds cylinder deactivation tech to cut fuel consumption. When Porsche unveiled its new unit at the Vienna Motor Symposium last month, it said the engine was good for 542 horsepower (550 PS / 404 kW) at 5,750 rpm and a peak torque of 568 pound-feet (770 newton-meters) from 1,960 rpm.
As for lesser versions, word on the street says the new Panamera will make use of a biturbo 2.9-liter V6 and 3.6-liter V6 also with two turbos. Europeans will have a diesel V8 to choose from and there’s also going to be a plug-in hybrid version with a bigger electric range compared to the current S E-Hybrid.
Those leaked images we mentioned in the beginning also revealed the 2017 Panamera’s high-tech cabin with four digital screens flanking an analog tachometer mounted in the center of the instrument cluster. People sitting in the back will have access to their own expansive console featuring a large display and capacitive buttons. Previous spy shots have shown touch-sensitive buttons will also be installed up front where there’s going to be a bigger display for the infotainment system and a sporty three-spoke steering wheel.
The new Porsche Panamera will likely go on sale before the year’s end and is going to be followed by a wagon version probably in the second half of 2017.
Source: Porsche