The four-door Panamera may not have sat well with purists when it was introduced in 2009, but it's sold well enough, especially in China, to keep the company happy. So following in the footsteps of various iterations, including the Turbo S, the S E-Hybrid and long-wheelbase Exclusive, Porsche is rolling out three new additions, with more standard equipment and tweaked styling aimed at both the Western and Asian markets.
Porsche's latest spin on its full-size luxury Panamera line includes the Panamera Edition, the Panamera 4 Edition, and the Panamera Diesel Edition. The Panamera Edition and the Panamera 4 Edition both have a six-cylinder petrol engine punching 310 bhp (228 kW), the latter sweetening the pot with active all-wheel drive and an electronically controlled, map-controlled, multi-plate clutch. Meanwhile, the Panamera Diesel Edition generates 300 bhp (221 kW).
The Porsche team has paid considerable attention to the exterior and while it's not an overhaul, the new style has shifted the lines to make the new additions look more like classic Porsches with a touch more aggressiveness than more generic big upmarket cars.
THe three new models boast Power Steering Plus, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, bi-xenon headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System, and front and rear Park Assist with a reversing camera.
The Panamera Edition comes in two variants to suit regional markets. Since the Chinese market sells to customers who tend to use chauffeurs, the Panamera Edition on sale in China put the emphasis on rear seat comfort, including electric roll-up sun blinds for the side and rear windows. Meanwhile, the US market versions have 14-way comfort seats in the front with comfort memory package, as well as front and rear seat heating.
Both versions sport bi-colour part-leather upholstery in Black-Luxor Beige with the Porsche crest embossed on the headrests, a sport-design steering wheel, and door sill plates with "Edition" lettering. The Porsche Communication Management infotainment has a seven-inch touchscreen monitor, and the 585-watt Bose Surround Sound System has 14 speakers.
Porsche says that the Panamera Edition goes on sale in Germany in June with the Panamera Edition selling for €86,490 (US$94,000), the Panamera 4 Edition costing €91,131 (US$99,100), and the Panamera Diesel Edition €88,275 (US$96,000), though the latter is not available in China.
Source: Porsche