Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
We say it's official: The 2010 Porsche Panamera is the new badass of the executive sedan class. It accelerates and handles like no other four-door anything in existence, and we'd love to own one. To be sure, the rear-drive Panamera S and all-wheel-drive 4S are the sensible, maybe-I-could-afford-it-one-day-on-the-used-market options, but all the mystique surrounds the 500-horsepower 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo.
We recently tested a Panamera Turbo. It costs $146,720, and you can see a breakdown of the options on our test car on the window sticker to the right. Just for fun, we've decided to compare it side by side with the last Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG we tested. That was all the way back in 2007, but aside from a face-lift for 2010, the king of the S-Class line hasn't changed a bit since then. The S65 brings 604 hp to the table but some 700 additional pounds as well.
Although the Porsche pulls away in a straight line, you'll be surprised by how well the big, expensive Benz keeps up in braking and handling tests.
Disclaimer: We've revised our acceleration testing protocol and correction factor since 2007, so this is not intended to be a hard-and-fast comparison between the two sedans.
Panamera Turbo S65 AMG
0-30 (sec.): 1.3 1.9
0-45 (sec.): 2.3 3.0
0-60 (sec.): 3.7 4.4
0-75 (sec.): 5.3 5.9
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 12.0 @ 111.3 12.6 @ 115.3
0-60 with 1-foot Rollout (sec): 3.5 N/A
30-0 (ft): 28 28
60-0 (ft): 111 111
Skid pad lateral acceleration (g): 0.92 0.90
Slalom 68.2 66.3
Vehicle: 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo
Odometer: 585
Date: 11/24/09
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Price: $146,720
Specifications:
Drive Type: All-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual
Engine Type: Twin-turbocharged and direct-injected 90-degree V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4,806/293
Redline (rpm): 6,500
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 500 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 516 @ 2,250
Brake Type (front): 14.2-by-1.4-inch ventilated disc with 6-piston fixed caliper
Brake Type (rear): 13.0-by-1.1-inch ventilated disc with 4-piston fixed caliper
Steering System: Variable-ratio power rack-and-pinion
Suspension Type (front): Independent, double-wishbone, air springs, adaptive dampers, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink, air springs, adaptive dampers, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 225/45ZR19 100Y
Tire Size (rear): 285/40ZR19 103Y
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Pilot Sport PS2
Tire Type: Asymmetrical, directional summer tires
Wheel size: 19-by-9.0-inch front, 19-by-10.0-inch rear
Wheel material (front/rear): Aluminum
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,382
Test Results:
0-30 (sec.): 1.3
0-45 (sec.): 2.3
0-60 (sec.): 3.7
0-75 (sec.): 5.3
1/4-Mile (sec. @ mph): 12.0 @ 111.3
0-60 with 1-foot Rollout (sec.): 3.5
30-0 (ft): 28
60-0 (ft): 111
Braking Rating: Very Good
Slalom (mph): 68.2
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.92
Handling Rating: Excellent
Db @ Idle: 50.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.6
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 56.7
Acceleration Comments: Lots of wheelspin using launch control. Doesn't seem to hurt time. Wow! That's a very fast sedan. Insane.
Braking Comments: Typical Porsche confidence here. Intuitive. Solid. Consistent pedal. No fade.
Handling Comments: Slalom: Very Porsche-like here. Quick, immediate response. Very little yaw delay. Goes where it's pointed with little protest and with more confidence than any other four-door in the world. Skid pad: Won't transition to oversteer by simply opening throttle. Drop throttle, however, rotates Panamera effectively, allowing for precise line adjustments at the limit. Very nice.
Vehicle: 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
Date: 11/8/07
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Price: $191,415 (in 2007)
Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Five-speed automatic
Engine Type: Twin-turbocharged 60-degree V12
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 5,980/365
Redline (rpm): 5,950
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 604 @ 4,800
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 738 @ 2,000
Brake Type (front): 15.4-by-1.3-inch ventilated disc with 8-piston fixed caliper
Brake Type (rear): 14.4-by-0.9-inch ventilated disc with 4-piston fixed caliper
Steering System: Speed-sensitive, hydraulic-assist power rack-and-pinion
Suspension Type (front): Independent, multilink, air springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink, air springs, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 255/35ZR20
Tire Size (rear): 275/35ZR20
Tire Brand: Pirelli
Tire Model: P Zero
Tire Type: Summer
Wheel size: 20-by-8.5-inch front, 20-by-9.5-inch rear
Wheel material (front/rear): Aluminum
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 5,100
Test Results:
0-30 (sec.): 1.9
0-45 (sec.): 3.0
0-60 (sec.): 4.4
0-75 (sec.): 5.9
1/4-Mile (sec. @ mph): 12.6 @ 115.3
30-0 (ft): 28
60-0 (ft): 111
Braking Rating: Excellent
Slalom (mph): 66.3
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.90
Handling Rating: Excellent
Db @ Idle: 50.3
Db @ Full Throttle: 73.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 65.9
Acceleration Comments: Typical Mercedes traction control meddling despite ESP off. Upshifts to 2nd with a hint of wheelspin. Best run in Sport Drive with minimal to no spin. Shifts are crisp but not neck-snapping.
Braking Comments: "PreSafe" stranglehold and flashers on every full-ABS stop. Near zero dive and firm pedal on each stop.
Handling Comments: Steering gets much lighter at the limit. No ESP interference on the skid pad. Slight understeer can be "driven through" and coaxed into slight oversteer. No body roll.
fuhteng says:
07:34 PM, 12/15/09
Am I a huge nerd if I say I can't wait for the Forza DLC so I can play with the Panamera Turbo and the XFR?
kyolml says:
09:18 PM, 12/15/09
Hooray! it is faster than the Cayenne Turbo S! At least Porsche still apply physics!!! Not like stupid BMW pulled out the ugliest SAV and makes it faster than the M5...
Performance can almost match 911 turbo, they need to apply more physics and make it faster for a smaller car (sigh).
carfreak8394 says:
10:57 PM, 12/15/09
The Panamera's times are amazing. I'd love to ride in one.
pengwin says:
12:07 AM, 12/16/09
i'll take an SL65 AMG now.
The panamera may be better in the numbers but i'm almost positive i'd be having more fun w/ the AMG.
dougtheeng says:
06:08 AM, 12/16/09
Insanely fast. But then again I suppose the only way to distract the rest of the world from what the Porsche looks like they HAD to make it quick lol.
michael_s says:
06:26 AM, 12/16/09
By numbers, the Cadillac CTS-V, BMW M5, and Mercedes E63 have more horsepower per pound of vehicle than the Panamera Turbo and they all have rear wheel drive - but none of them manage 12 seconds in the quarter mile.
So either Porsche underrated the engine or that automated manual transmission is spectacular.
loganmotor says:
06:44 AM, 12/16/09
Panamera isn't that fast, it's just quick because of the clever launch control and gearbox. Look at the trap speed, it's significantly slower than the S65...hell a BMW M3 is faster through the quarter mile.
stingray454 says:
06:53 AM, 12/16/09
Interesting 0-60 and 1/4 mile numbers for the Panamera. It shows the Panamera has tremendous grip thanks to its AWD system, but is actually not that powerful, as reflected in it's 111 mph trap speed, which is pretty weak for a 12.0 second car. Contrast this with the CTS-V, which typically runs the 1/4 mile in 12.4 @ 119 mph. What these numbers tell you is that although the Panamera will beat a CTS-V in 0-60 and in the 1/4 mile, the CTS-V will catch up and pass a Panamera in a race from 0-150. The CTS-V would also beat a Panamera in a race from a 30 mph roll to any speed.
Another thing that surprised me is the Panamera could not top (or come anywhere near) the CTS-V's 71.1 mph slalom speed. The Panamera might be a good handling car in some aspects, but not the best handling sedan in all aspects.
As usual, it appears Edmunds has its Porsche lover blinders on.
rayainsw says:
07:10 AM, 12/16/09
So - on a Porsche with a base MSRP of over
$130,000
they still want another 150 bucks for floor mats?
Amazing.....
joefrompa says:
08:11 AM, 12/16/09
Stingray - Yeah, you are right. Also, my FWD Civic SI with all-season tires had a better slalom than either the Panamera or S63. with Michelin PS2s on my car? Good Lord, it's a Lotus Elise killer in the slalom. Thank Goodness the Slalom test is completely relevant.
:)
Anyway, I honestly wonder how the Panamera is achieving 12 seconds at 111mph. Seems like a low trap speed to me, even with a great launch. I'd like to see some other testers.
cr_driver says:
09:22 AM, 12/16/09
Im not amazed, cause something like that is what I was expecting giving the monster turbo engine. And no doubt PDK with launch control is working very very well.
As for the s65, yes Im surprised is it that slow!! 12.6 quarter mile is not what I was thinking of, 115mph trap speed seems like average but not holy cow giving the output of this world class engine.
hondacura4 says:
10:42 AM, 12/16/09
"As for the s65, yes Im surprised is it that slow!! 12.6 quarter mile is not what I was thinking of, 115mph trap speed seems like average but not holy cow giving the output of this world class engine."
CR_Driver, ever consider its 5100lb curb weight?
inlinesix says:
03:51 PM, 12/16/09
As usual Stingray it appears you have your GM-lover blinders on.
Still you're right--someone can have an incredible car like the CTS-V for a bargain price. But the small target group of buyers for a Panamera Turbo is not likely to be turned off by a small 100-150mph acceleration difference. The Panamera Turbo is a car GM should have raced at Monticello.
I personally think the front end of the CTS-V is ugly as sin. But I'll skip both cars based on looks.
onendone says:
05:16 PM, 12/16/09
Although these two cars are 4 door saloons with massive performance credentials, the Mercedes is first and foremost a luxury limousine. Tip into the throttle and you can get massive performance in any gear and any speed, but just cruising along you have a car that can go toe to toe in terms of luxury and relaxation with any lexus, bentley, or rolls royce. The fact that the Mercedes pulls those numbers with a 5100lb curb weight, a granny shifting 5spd auto transmission is credential enough for me. Oh yea the 111ft 60-0 braking.....absolutely ridiculous. The Porsche may be quick but the s65 is a living legend.
lucien4 says:
09:37 AM, 12/17/09
"Am I a huge nerd if I say I can't wait for the Forza DLC so I can play with the Panamera Turbo and the XFR?"
It's already available for a week. They did a great job with the interiors. I posted screenshots here (using zoomed out trick with multiscreen):
http://cid-0a4ae3fb12a26635.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Forza%203%20Car%20interior%20pictures