1st PORSCHE PANAMERA

World’s fastest diesel delivers plenty of entertainment in corners, and is also a refined cruiser

FOR the time being, the £93,379 4S Diesel is the only diesel-powered Panamera in the range. Under the bonnet, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is new and produces an impressive 416bhp – more even than a 911 Carrera S. As well as plenty of power, it has a healthy 850Nm of torque that’s served up from a lowly 1,000rpm and doesn’t let up until 3, 250rpm. Peak power kicks in just after this, and is sustained until 5,000rpm.

Diesels usually struggle at higher revs, but the Porsche’s engine feels so muscular and continues revving in a linear fashion higher up the range, emitting a muted V8 rumble. With a new eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox, launch control and four-wheel drive, the Panamera’s performance is stunning. It sprinted from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, while its in-gear acceleration was similarly spectacular, even compared to the instant torque of the Tesla.

There’s so much that’s new about this secondgeneration Porsche Panamera that very little is carried over from its predecessor. Porsche’s 4D Chassis control system integrates all the tech on offer, so the way this 2,050kg four-door drives is scarcely believable. Our car featured Porsche’s £1,604 adaptive air-suspension. The Panamera rides nicely, but with 21-inch alloys, even with the dampers in their softest setting you can still feel niggly wheel movement over small bumps. However, at higher speeds the chassis soaks up the worst the road can throw at it with convincing composure.

The slightly firmer edge to the ride is worth putting up with given how agile the car is, though. Our model was also fitted with rear-wheel steering (£1,536), which effectively shortens the Panamera’s wheelbase in slower turns for increased response and lengthens it in faster corners for more stability.

The steering has just the right level of weight and feedback, while the grip and traction would embarrass some sports cars. Plus the Panamera has real poise and balance for such a big, heavy car.

Taut body control aside, the Porsche switches to a luxury limo when you move from Sport Plus to Comfort mode, and the interior comes into its own. The 12-inch touchscreen is clear and digitally controls the movement of the central air vent. This might seem gimmicky, but the level of connectivity isn’t, with apps and smartphone programmes on offer.

The console is no longer festooned with buttons. Instead, the touch sensitive glass panel is flush, adding an even more hi-tech feel combined with the twin high-resolution screens either side of Porsche’s trademark central rev counter.

DRIVING

The Panamera is defined by its split personality. It’s incredibly relaxed and refined on the motorway, yet on a country road it seems to shed weight and handle with control you’d expect from a lighter car.

GEARBOX The transmission is smooth and swift, shifting up early in Comfort to maximise efficiency. However, this means the engine can get caught off boost – but it’s quick to kick down where the V8 delivers its monster punch.

RUNNING COSTS

It’s expensive to buy, and even as a diesel it’ll be expensive to run. The Panamera returned 32.0mpg on test, which equates to around £2,068 per year in fuel. The Tesla will cost £570 to charge at home a year.

RANGE While it costs more to run than the Model S, with a 90-litre tank you’ll only have to fill the Panamera every 630 miles, whereas the Tesla will be out of charge in 381 miles, according to official figures – although 300 miles is a more realistic target.

PRACTICALITY

The Porsche’s heavily raked hatch impacts on boot space, but there’s still 500 litres. Fold the back seats down and this rises to 1,340 litres, offering more practicality.

FOUR SEATS Unlike the Model S, the Panamera only seats four. However, while headroom is tighter than in the Tesla, there’s lots of legroom and storage is good.

INTERIOR & TECHNOLOGY

The Porsche’s cabin feels much higher quality than the Tesla’s. The inlays, glass centre console, customisable screens and solid build mean it feels worth every last pound of its price.

INFOTAINMENT This is the most sophisticated multimedia system ever in a Porsche. You can turn the car into a Wi-fi hotspot, connect to apps, get info on fuel prices and link your Apple phone or watch via Carplay. However, it’s the slick way in which it all works so seamlessly that’s impressive.

OWNERSHIP

Porsche came seventh in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey, which is good. However, Tesla topped the table, finishing first in every category except for build quality. where it came second to Porsche.

WARRANTY Porsche is known for reliability in motorsport, and its road cars reflect this. A three-year unlimited mileage warranty is standard.