What is it?
No matter how challenging the concept of a four-door Porsche powered by a V6 powerplant, this entree into the Panamera range will be the global best-seller.
Half of all Panamera output will exit Zuffenhausen equipped with a 300bhp 3.6-litre six, effectively two cylinders lopped off the Panamera’s V8.
In the UK the V6 will make up a third of sales, largely because it lowers the entry-point into the Panamera range by £12k.
There are technical advantages, too. The lighter-weight V6 reduces the load over the Panamera’s nose by 30kg and shifts the engine’s C of G backwards, marginally-improving weight distribution to 52:48 front:rear.
The 300bhp output of the V6 is impressive, placing it above similarly-engined rivals, whose V6s tend to make between 240 – 270bhp. As a result the Panamera V6 records impressive-looking performance on paper.
What's it like?
See hi-res pictures of the Porsche Panamera V6
The four-wheel drive Panamera 4, fitted with a seven-speed PDK ‘box as standard, holds the upper hand over the £5k cheaper, manual-as-standard two-wheel drive Panamera thanks to better steering and cornering stability. It also crosses white lines marginally better, although both our test cars were surprisingly unsettled by this everyday manouvre.
The iron body control - also a strong point of V8 Panameras - continues to impress on the optional air suspension, particularly in the transition between tight corners.
At all costs avoid the optional 20in wheels/tyres, which improve the aesthetics, but tramline very badly.
Despite the handful of good points, there’s no escaping the judgement that the Panamera V6 lacks the verve that its badge and hefty price tag demand.
The V6 isn’t as charismatic as Porsche’s flat-sixes, the steering wants for the scalpel-like precision of the company’s two-seaters and its bulk refuses to shrink as you thread it down a back road.
Above all else, the price is where the Panamera V6 really struggles. The £66k price tag pitches it against more powerful V8 and V10 competitors, particularly the 503bhp Jag XFR and 500bhp BMW M5, which offer considerably more performance and driving pleasure for similar money.
Should I buy one?
The most affordable Panamera yet struggles to justify its badge and hefty price tag thanks to the unexciting performance and driving manners and artificial steering.
Fact is, there’s much better value to be had higher-up the Panamera range, although that’s not much comfort if your budget isn’t north of £80k.
Julian Rendell
Join the debate
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
Is this Porsche's own V6 and related to their own V8, as suggested in the article, or is it really VW's and namely the VR6 unit, possibly the same one used in the Passat R36?
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
'two cylinders taken off the V8' you say - is it not the VW / Audi V6 sourced but modified engine found in the Cayenne and several Audi and VW's?
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
Good question and sorry there wasn't room to insert an explanation. No is the answer. it's not the narrow angle VR6. Porsche engineers explained why in detail yesterday. Firstly the VR6 is too tall to fit under the Panamera's bonnet - 41mm to be precise. Secondly it gets delivered as a built-up unit by VW, so it couldn't easily be fitted to the Panamera 4Wd system, which involves a complex power take off for the rear drive.
This passes through the sump of the Panamera to keep the bonnet height low and is therefore totally different to the Cayenne/Touareg 4WD arrangement.
Incidentally the forthcoming hybrid Panamera uses another V6 - the 90 degree Audi 3.0 with supercharger. Its package height is low enough to snuck under the Panamera bonnet line.
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
Whoops should have typed: "Secondly it gets delivered as a built-up unit by VW, so it couldn't easily be fitted to the Panamera 4Wd system, which involves a complex power take off for the FRONT drive."
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
All pananeras are dreadfull so why would this be any different?
Porsche please stick to sportscars
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
yes I agree except I did see a Panamera Turbo in Black with the Spyder wheels last week and it looked reasonable
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
This is the ultimate interpretation of badge snobbery - thousands of people all over the world will cough up and scramble onto the bottom rung of the Porsche Panamera ladder just for the pretty badge on the bonnet...
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
'two cylinders taken off the V8' you say - is it not the VW / Audi V6 sourced but modified engine found in the Cayenne and several Audi and VW's?
No. The Audi 3.6 V6 is actually a VR6(10.6 deg. separation between 'banks'), but called 'V6' by Audi.
The V6 here is a 90 deg., made by Porsche at Zuffenhausen, and almost certainly is a 2 cyl reduced version of their 4.8 V8.
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
Is this Porsche's own V6 and related to their own V8, as suggested in the article
yes.
or is it really VW's and namely the VR6 unit, possibly the same one used in the Passat R36?
no.
Re: Porsche Panamera 4
Total wannabe/poseur model; undepowered (for its mass and girth) to merit the hallowed sports car badge and, worse still, outperformed even by middleweight sedans such as a 535, A6 TFSi or an E350 with the new 305hp V6.
Frankly, I wouldn't even blink into choosing a V8 5-series/E-class (with the new turbo V8, please), XF or, better yet, a pre-owned, low-mileage M5, E63 or RS6.
