2015 Porsche Panamera

For Porsche, the idea of a grand touring car has never simply meant adding comfort to a sports car.

When the 928 arrived in 1977, it represented a remarkably ambitious interpretation of what a Porsche could be: front-engined, exceptionally refined and engineered to cover enormous distances at speed. Conceived during a period when Porsche was considering the future direction of the company, and, at one point, the eventual succession of the 911, the 928 established a distinctly Porsche approach to the Grand Tourer.

Three decades later, the Panamera took that philosophy considerably further.

Developed to give Porsche a genuine four-seat, four-door Grand Tourer without surrendering the engineering character for which the marque had become known, the Panamera represented a significant undertaking for Stuttgart. It wasn’t intended simply to be a luxury saloon carrying a Porsche crest; it needed to feel and respond like a Porsche while providing the comfort, space and effortless ability expected of a true long-distance GT.

In many respects, it became the spiritual successor to the 928.

The long bonnet, substantial proportions and emphasis on high-speed touring were familiar themes, but the Panamera added genuine accommodation for four adults, contemporary technology and a chassis engineered with the same attention to driver involvement that defined Porsche’s sports cars.

At the heart of this example is Porsche’s 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6, producing 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque.

Utilising direct fuel injection, VarioCam Plus variable valve timing and lift, and integrated dry-sump lubrication, the all-aluminium V6 was very much a Porsche interpretation of the six-cylinder Grand Tourer.

Its character is perhaps more important than the outright figures. Without turbocharging or hybrid assistance, power delivery is progressive and linear, rewarding the driver for using the rev range while retaining the refinement expected of a Panamera.

Combined with Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission, it makes for an exceptionally capable everyday GT: responsive when required, relaxed over distance and possessing more than enough performance to remind you that this remains a Porsche.

There is also something appealing about the V6 within the broader Panamera story. It arguably represents the model in one of its purest forms — a naturally aspirated petrol engine, sophisticated chassis and genuine long-distance ability without chasing the enormous outputs of the flagship derivatives.

Delivered new by Porsche Centre Sydney South and finished in Agate Grey Metallic, this example is beautifully contrasted by a Marsala and Cream two-tone Full Special Leather interior.

It is an unusually sophisticated combination. The understated exterior allows the shape of the Panamera to speak for itself, while opening the door reveals an interior with considerably more personality. The richness of Marsala against the lighter Cream leather creates a cabin that feels appropriately special for Porsche’s flagship Grand Tourer.

Optional Equipment

• Agate Grey Metallic
• Marsala and Cream two-tone Full Special Leather
• 20-Inch 911 Turbo II Wheels
• Rear Wiper
• Lane Chance Assist
• Park Assist inc. Reversing Camera and Surround View
• Power Steering Plus
• Six-Stack CD Changer

Travelled 80,000 kilometres, this Panamera is accompanied by a comprehensive Porsche Centre service history, providing an important record of its maintenance and care throughout its life.

As these first-generation Panameras mature, specification, condition and provenance become increasingly important. A well-kept example with documented Porsche history and an interior specification such as this stands distinctly apart from the more conventionally configured cars.

There is something increasingly appealing about the original Panamera today.

Removed from the expectations surrounding its launch, it can now be appreciated for exactly what Porsche intended it to be: a serious Grand Tourer, fast, beautifully engineered, immensely capable and designed to make covering distance feel effortless.

The 928 demonstrated that a Porsche could be something other than a traditional sports car without losing its identity. The Panamera took that philosophy into the modern era, and in naturally aspirated V6 form, did so with an appealing degree of simplicity.