Porsche has given its four-door saloon more grunt with the addition of a new optional power kit for the Panamera Turbo, raising power output by 40bhp to a maximum of 547bhp.
The Panamera Turbo Powerkit utilises two new turbochargers with titanium-alloy turbine wheels. This, along with alterations to the engine calibration, has also upped the peak torque to 553lb.ft. And when the Sport Chrono package is combined with the Powerkit, torque increases during overboost to 589lb.ft.
In Sport Plus mode, the Power-kitted Panamera Turbo accelerates one tenth of a second faster than the standard car, reaching 62mph from zero in 3.9 seconds. Top speed is up 2mph to 190mph. However, despite all this extra go, fuel consumption remains the same.
The Porsche Powerkit Exclusive option will be available from September 2010 at a price of £11,118. The Powerkit will also become available as a retrofit kit from this November.
In addition to the Powerkit for the Turbo versions Porsche has added a Sport Design Package, adding new 20-inch Panamera Sport alloy wheels and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV) to the Panamera's already fulsome options list.
A body-coloured nose with wider black air intake grilles, separate side skirts and the standard, body-coloured rear under-body apron with diffuser and fins make up the new Sport Design Package. Available at an additional cost of £2,516, it can also be retro fitted via Porsche Tequipment.
The light alloy 20-inch Panamera Sport multi-spoke wheels are available from Porsche Exclusive finished in GT silver metallic, black, or co-ordinated in body colour. Prices are from £2,247 (£1,058 on Turbo models).
Furthermore, a three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles is also available as an option in combination with the Porsche PDK gearbox; this is priced at £277.
Panamera V8 customers can now request Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) as an option along with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and a fully controlled rear axle differential lock. Costing £3,130, PTV Plus is claimed to result in a more direct and dynamic steering response when cornering - and at the same time PTV Plus, in conjunction with the rear differential, improves traction when accelerating out of a bend.
Shane Hickey - 18 Aug 2010
