In the Fast Lane
alethia tiang pits two German automakers — Porsche and BMW — and their latest sports cars against each other. Who will triumph?
when bmw first launched its 5 Series GT in 2009, the automotive world, well, laughed. The car was meant to hit the middle ground between the 5 Series saloon and Touring but let’s face it, the hatchback-style ride looked awkward. But the carmaker gave the segment another shot with the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo unveiled globally in mid-2017. And unlike its predecessor, this one is looking much better.
Porsche, on the other hand, had a slightly better start with its first sports saloon revealed in 2010. Though the market wondered how a four-door could live up to the Porsche name, the Panamera proved its worth, making its debut with a robust eight-cylinder engine that promised 500bhp. With the car’s success, Porsche launched its first shooting brake, the Sport Turismo edition of the sports saloon at the Geneva Motor Show 2017.
With the 6 Series, petrolheads are able to choose either the base 630i Gran Turismo M Sport or the more powerful 640i xdrive Gran Turismo M Sport, which promises almost 100bhp more output. Porsche released four options — Panamera 4 Sport Turismo; Panamera 4S Sport Turismo; the eco-friendlier Panamera 4 E-hybrid Sport Turismo; and the most powerful of the lot, the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo.
Our test units are the 640i and the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo. On paper, the BMW promises slightly more power than the Porsche, with both cars producing the same maximum torque of 450Nm. If the Stig were to take both cars to the track for the 100-km dash, it shouldn’t be unlikely that they’d cross the finish line bang on the same second. If you took a quick glance at the two, they even look mighty similar in terms of size and silhouette.
On the road, driving performance is as smooth and comfortable as both brands have always delivered with their products. But how do these cars balance speed and lifestyle needs? We give both a go to see how they fare.
Cabin Space
Like its coupe-style sibling, Porsche’s Sport Turismo stays true to its racing heritage, thanks to the dynamic proportions. Spanning 5,049mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,950mm and a height of 1,428mm, the luxury car comes with short body overhangs to look just as sporty and charismatic. Not to mention that this is the firstever Panamera to feature three rear seats with a 2+1 configuration. The Sport Turismo is also available in a four-seat configuration with two electrically adjustable individual seats at the rear instead.
Similarly, BMW offers three full-size seats in the rear with sufficient leg and head room in the cabin. However, it is a slightly bigger car. Length is at 5,091mm, wheelbase at 3,070mm while height is at 1,538mm. While BMW’S proportions should translate to slightly roomier interiors for passengers, the difference is by and large negligible.
boot Space
While both the Panamera and the 6 Series can accommodate up to five people, BMW boasts 610 litres of rear storage and the Panamera up to 520 litres of boot space. The BMW ups the ante further by offering 1,800 litres of space when the folding seats are dropped down electronically — making this the car you’d head out of town with a full set of matching luggage.
At 1,390 litres with the backrests of its rear seats folded down, the Panamera may have about 400 litres less storage but it’s no slouch in ergonomics: Its lower boot sill and larger boot aperture makes loading and unloading easier.
assistance Systems
When it comes to technology
and driving systems, BMW is a leader in this segment with innovative introductions, such as Gesture Control and its interactive BMW Display Key. And the 640i doesn’t disappoint. One of the standard systems included is the Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Collision Mitigation that delivers acoustic and visual warnings to the driver as well as braking intervention at city speeds. Other safety features include Antilock Braking System, Parking Assistant, Steering and Lane Control Assistant, as well as Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning systems. And of course, with the key fob comes the Remote Control Parking feature that allows drivers to manoeuvre the car into parking spots.
Porsche also offers a range of assistance systems, though not as extensive as that by BMW. These include the Porsche Side Impact Protection System that adds safety along the side of the car, in addition to a body kit that has been optimised to ensure protection from crashes. Other features include the Parkassist, Lane Change Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control.
The Verdict
Both brands have certainly delivered cars that harmoniously blend luxury, practicality and performance — sporty and sexy on the outside, as well as stylishly comfortable on the inside, while being robust enough for an adrenalinefilled drive.
If we had to choose, it is the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo that feeds our need for speed, thanks to the glorious rumbling of the engine under the hood — a testament to the brand’s history on the tracks. So if space doesn’t matter, Porsche ticks all the right boxes.
But for those who want a little more room, the BMW 6 Series GT lets you enjoy great driving performance, along with better head, leg and luggage room on the daily.