Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo

SPORTS-LUXURY WAGON, Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo. The Panamera Sport Turismo remains faithful to the same-name concept vehicle that in 2012 first showcased a sleekly styled, shooting brake-style variation of Porsche’s big sedan. Buyers have endured a teasing wait for this production version that sits alongside a second-generation Panamera four-door, which also now visually pleases rather than polarises. If the Sport Turismo hardly provides the practicality leap typically experienced between sedan and wagon body styles, there is at least some extended versatility in evidence. Different from the door pillar backwards, the Sport Turismo’s slightly higher and extended roofline liberates an extra 20 litres of cargo space. Within the cabin, the sedan’s fourseater layout is switched to a 4+1 configuration that accommodates a child (instead of a console) in the centre rear seat.

Although the Turbo Sport Turismo is slightly heavier and therefore fractionally slower than its sedan stablemate, it still needs only 3.8 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill. It’s equally rampant through the gears. Pressing the ‘Sport Response’ button on the steering wheel’s cleverly placed drivemode dial unleashes full performance – and optimised overtaking – for up to 20 seconds. Michael Stahl offered that the Panamera’s relative abilities on a track were perhaps not that surprising considering the Porsche badge, and that its blend of comfort and confidence on the road were more enlightening. “It’s a big car, yet it’s both graceful and assertive on the road,” he said. “Then consider that dogs, sports gear, whatever else can go in the back and it’s hard to think of a better allround performance wagon.” That judges were more enamoured with the styling of this generation and version of the Panamera than the last was merely a bonus. – JEZ SPINKS

Engine

4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo

Power/torque

404kW/770Nm

Transmission

Eight-speed dual-clutch manual; all-wheel drive

Weight

2035kg

Performance

0-100km/h in 3.8 sec; maximum speed 304km/h

Price

$390,700 (as tested $415,670)

Sources: Robb Report Australia, July 2018