[Taboleo] Satisfied with Both Front Passenger and Rear Seats... The Evolved Dream Car for Dads

Porsche 3rd Generation Panamera Lands in Korea This April
Improvements in Design, Powertrain, and Chassis
New 'PAR' Suspension Overcoming Physical Laws Applied
Stable Body Control in High-Speed Cornering and Rough Road Passage

On the 28th (local time), third-generation Porsche Panameras are displayed in front of a hotel in Seville, Spain.

Porsche's 4-door sedan, which has embraced the sports car into everyday life, has evolved once again. The third-generation all-new (full change) model, the Porsche Panamera, has returned as the 'dream car for dads' that can satisfy not only the driver's seat but also the passenger and rear seats.

Recently, Porsche held a global test drive event for the third-generation new Panamera in Seville, Spain. It was the first time the Panamera was showcased on public roads since its unveiling last November. Thomas Primus, Vice President of the Panamera product line at Porsche AG, appeared at the event and emphasized, "We have equipped it with a more powerful drive system and better suspension, providing both Porsche's unique dynamic driving performance and a high level of convenience."

Large Display for the Passenger Seat... Rear Seats Also Comfortable

Porsche 3rd Generation Panamera (Provided by Porsche)

The new Panamera experienced that day was both comfortable and powerful. It seemed to have strengthened only the advantages of dynamic BMW and stable Mercedes-Benz. The first test drive vehicle was the most basic Panamera 4. The exterior maintained Porsche's identity while showing changes of the new model. The overall impression was stronger. The distinctive frog-like shape was retained but was styled with sharper curves rather than smooth ones. The front headlights became larger and sharper. The contours on the hood became clearer, transforming into a more 'muscular' look.

Interior view of the 3rd generation Porsche Panamera (Photo by Porsche)

While the exterior was macho, the interior revealed characteristics of a luxury sedan everywhere. First, as soon as you sat in the driver's seat, a vast display unfolded. A 12.6-inch curved display instrument panel was positioned directly in front of the driver, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen was placed in the center fascia. The passenger seat also had a 10.9-inch display (optional). Like the wide display recently introduced in the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the entire field of view was filled with displays.

The passenger seat could operate various functions. It showed all information occurring during driving, including navigation screens, driving status, altitude, and direction. It was also full of entertainment features. In addition to music listening, various video streaming services such as YouTube could be used. While driving, nothing appeared on the passenger screen when viewed from the driver's seat. The structure allowed those sitting beside the driver to enjoy freely whatever they wanted. It gave independence and autonomy to the passenger.

New Suspension That Seems to Defy Physical Laws

On the 28th (local time), the third-generation Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid model was seen driving at the Montecarlo Circuit in Seville, Spain (Photo by Porsche).

The driving performance was impeccable. During about an hour and a half drive on the outskirts of Seville, the interior was quiet and peaceful, and the ride comfort was smooth. It was unmistakably a family sedan. Even rear-seat passengers could comfortably take a nap. However, when switching to sports mode and pressing the accelerator pedal, the instincts of a sports car emerged. It accelerated instantly with a loud exhaust sound. The continuous winding roads in the mountainous area outside Seville were no problem. The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) dual-chamber 2-valve air suspension maintained the body stable at any speed and demonstrated excellent cornering ability.

But this was just the preview. The new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model 'Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid' met on the track showed a much more powerful appearance in every aspect. The engine and transmission evolved, but the most notable part was the suspension. Porsche's electronic 'Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC)' was removed, but a more monstrous 'Porsche Active Ride (PAR) suspension system' was installed.

The PAR system is a technology that always keeps the body level. It absorbs most of the bumps and distributes wheel loads evenly even during dynamic driving. First, as you approach the car to get in, the ride height automatically rises. It was like a luxury sedan welcoming its customers. Once seated, the ride height lowered again, firmly sticking to the ground and preparing to drive.

First, I drove at 50 km/h through a specially prepared bumpy section inside the Monteblanco Circuit in Seville, Spain. Despite the continuous bumps, only the wheels shook up and down, while the body height was maintained. Increasing the speed, the PAR showed its true value. Even when entering corners at speeds over 150 km/h, the body did not sway side to side. The suspension operated in response to the centrifugal force pushing the body outward in corners, neutralizing the load on the body. The situation where the body, which should naturally sway, was maintained in a stable posture was hard to accept easily. It felt like physical laws were being ignored. It was a level of stability different from ordinary luxury sedans.

My Specialty is 'Running'... Good at Turning, Stopping, and Braking

The ignored physical laws returned when changing modes. Switching from 'E-Hybrid' mode to 'Sport Plus' mode stopped the operation of PAR, revealing the typical Porsche dynamism without filtering. The speedometer quickly soared to 200 km/h. The car entered and exited corners at relentless speed. Although the body swayed side to side like riding a motorcycle through corners, the body remained stable and handled the cornering section at high speed. Porsche development driver Lars Kern, who demonstrated the test drive that day, explained, "Through PAR, the range of capabilities that the Porsche Panamera can deliver has become much wider than before," adding, "It has become possible to drive in more diverse ways and for more purposes."

In fact, the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid model is equipped with an improved 4-liter V8 turbo engine and a newly developed 190-horsepower (PS) electric motor. Together, they produce a maximum output of 680 horsepower and 94.9 kgf·m of torque. The time to reach 100 km/h is only 3.2 seconds, and the top speed is 315 km/h. In Korea, the 'Panamera 4' will be released on the 2nd of next month, and the 'Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid' will be launched in the second half of the year. The prices are 166.5 million KRW and 299 million KRW, respectively. The PAR option, costing about 11.8 million KRW, is only available for the hybrid model.