Porsche Panamera interiors revealed

The interior of the Porsche Panamera - a big improvement on the outside styling

[ad#ad-1]

The Porsche Panamera saga has been going on for as long as the Aston Martin Rapide saga. Endless spy shots, dribbles of information and finally, last month, the first official photos of the car.

But now we have official photos of the interior, which should now pretty much complete the information we’re likely to get ahead of the car’s official launch in the UK on September 12th, except for prices, which I’m sure will surface before long.

I’ve got to say, the interior seems an awful lot more appealing than the exterior ‘Dogs-Humping’ profile. As expected, the inside is very tastefully done, with a plethora of switches and buttons on the centre console we’ve seen in the spy shots. The console is dominated by a big screen, and the steering wheel gets the predictable thumb-buttons to operate the PDK ‘box.

In the back, the headrests also get decent screens (depending on the model and spec – but they do look a bit clunky and after-market) and there appears to be plenty of room – a first for any Porsche (apart from the Cayenne). We have every expectation that the fixtures and fittings will be as well finished and of as  high a quality as those in the rest of the range, so on the basis that you’re inside looking out, the Panamera becomes more appealing!

Although UK prices haven’t been revealed (with the state of the currency market at the moment I guess Porsche is worried about shooting itself in the foot), the German prices for the 4.8 S version, including VAT, is €102k, which at today’s rate comes out at £92k.

And for your delight and delectation, the following is the Press Release on this update, followed by interior and exterior image galleries of the Panamera

Porsche Presents Space Concept of the New Panamera

Today, Porsche for the first time presents the innovative interior concept of the Panamera four door gran turismo. The much-anticipated addition to the Porsche range of performance cars will go on sale from 12 September 2009, and will be available in its top versions with V8 power units and an interior ambience distinguished by its luxurious and high technology features.

With a continuous centre console that extends from the fascia to the rear seating area, the Panamera offers a new spatial concept for the driver and all passengers featuring optimal ergonomic seating with an individual cockpit-like environment for all four seats. The low seating position and the sporting, low-slung steering wheel ensure that direct feeling for the road so typical of a Porsche. As well as providing an optimum seating position for the driver, the Panamera provides a generous, roomy interior with exceptional head and legroom for all occupants; unique qualities in a sporting car yet essential for grand touring.

The Panamera will offer customers countless opportunities for individual interior personalisation, with numerous options and possibilities to customise the car to his or her choice. Smooth and natural leathers are available in a total of 13 colour and material combinations, including four two-tone options that can be combined wherever required with seven optional interior trim finishes including exclusive materials such as carbon fibre and Natural Olive wood.

The Panamera offers comprehensive levels of safety courtesy of driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags as well as – on the front seats – side and knee airbags, all ensuring maximum protection as standard features in the event of an accident. Side airbags are available for the rear seats as an optional feature.

The comfort seats featured as standard in the Panamera S and 4S are of a sporting style, and can be adjusted electrically in eight different directions for optimum comfort. In the rear, two individual seats – with a folding centre armrest – provide generous legroom and headroom, particularly for tall passengers. The Panamera Turbo combines electric seat adjustment with a Comfort Memory Package not only for the seat functions but also the electrically adjustable steering column. Further alternatives such as adaptive sports seats or rear comfort seats with powered adjustment to a wide range of different positions are likewise available as options.

Four-zone automatic air conditioning is available as a further option, providing individual adjustment of temperature, blower intensity and air distribution for each seat.

The new Panamera is the first Porsche to offer the most supreme standard of in-car audio quality, with the option of a High-End Surround Sound System from Burmester, the renowned Berlin audio specialist. Never before has such a large, acoustically effective experience been included in a new vehicle concept from the start, and subsequently implemented in the production vehicle.

The Burmester audio features more than 2,400 square centimetres of ‘sound membranes’ to deliver an audio experience very similar to that of a live concert. A total of 16 loudspeakers masterminded by 16 amplifier channels with an overall output of more than 1,000 watts provide a unique sound, complemented by an active subwoofer together with a 300 W Class D amplifier.

The superior, yet practical, driving qualities of the Panamera are borne out clearly by the luggage compartment. After opening the rear lid, the driver and passengers are able to conveniently stow four suitcases behind the rear seats – the convenient loading height means they can be placed into the luggage compartment in an upright position for easy access.

The luggage compartment capacity in the Panamera S and 4S is 445 litres or 15.6 cu ft, maximum stowage in the Panamera Turbo is 432 litres or 15.1 cu ft – and with the rear seat back rests folded, luggage capacity increases to an ample 1,250 litres or 43.8 cu ft.

Initially, the Panamera is entering the market with V8 power units only, featuring either rear or all-wheel drive. The Panamera S is powered by a 4.8-litre V8 developing a maximum output of 400 bhp (294 kW). Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a six speed manual transmission as standard, or the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox can be specified as an option.

The Panamera features Direct Fuel Injection engine technology, low-friction drive systems and lightweight bodyshells for optimum efficiency. Furthermore, offered in combination with the PDK transmission is the new Porsche Auto Start Stop function. This automatically switches off and restarts the engine when stationary to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions – for example, at traffic lights or in congestion.

The Panamera S, when fitted with the PDK option, can accelerate to 62mph (100 km/h) in 5.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 176mph (283 km/h). Combined fuel consumption to the EU5 standard, in turn, is 26.2 mpg (10.8 ltr/100 km) and the Co2 emission rating is 253 g/km.

The Panamera 4S also features the 4.8-litre V8 developing 400 bhp (294 kW), with engine power conveyed to all four wheels via the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. Acceleration to 62mph (100 km/h) takes 5.0 seconds, top speed is 175mph (282 km/h). Fuel consumption to the EU5 standard is 25.4mpg (11.1 ltr/100 km) and Co2 emissions are 260 g/km.

At the head of the Panamera line-up is the Panamera Turbo, offering a twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 developing 500 bhp (368 kW), with power transmitted again by the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK). With all-wheel drive as standard, the Panamera Turbo accelerates to 62mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 188mph (303 km/h). Fuel consumption in the EU combined cycle is 23.2mpg (12.2 ltr/100 km) and Co2 emissions are 286 g/km.

The Porsche Panamera will go on sale in the UK and Ireland from September 12. Prices along with further technical specifications have yet to be confirmed.

Fitted to every Panamera will be a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard, and customers will also be able to explore the potential of their new car by participating in a complimentary course at the new Porsche Driving Experience Centre, Silverstone.

By Cars UK