Porsche is putting the finishing touches
on the facelifted Panamera as spy photographers have snapped a lightly
camouflaged prototype undergoing testing. The
updates are minor and virtually impossible to notice without a side-by-side
comparison. That being said, the model has an updated front bumper and revised
lighting units. Speaking of the latter, there are new taillights which are
partially hidden by black camouflage.
The rear bumper appears to carry over, but
there will be an updated diffuser. Given these small changes, it’s no wonder
the golden wheels are the most eye-catching thing about this prototype. The
modest updates will continue in the cabin as previous spy photos haven’t shown
much more than a revised steering wheel. However, the model could potentially
be hiding some more extensive upgrades including an updated infotainment system
and new driver assistance features.
Under the hood, we can likely expect an
assortment of familiar engine options. However, they’ll likely be updated to be
more powerful and efficient. In particular, engineers could add particle
filters to help reduce emissions. While there’s no word on specifics at this
point, the current Panamera lineup starts with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that
develops 325 hp and 447 Nm of torque. Moving up
the ladder is the Panamera S which has a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 developing 434
hp and 548 Nm of torque.
Likewise, the Panamera GTS has twin-turbo
4.0-liter V8 with 453 hp and 619 Nm of torque.
That same engine can be found in the Panamera Turbo where it develops 542 hp and 769 Nm of torque. On the eco-friendly side,
there are two plug-in hybrids. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is the most
notable as it combines a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with an electric motor and a
lithium-ion battery pack. This gives the model a combined output of 671 hp and 850 Nm of torque.
