Porsche Panamera Facelift

[Andy_Bangle]

Something has leaked out, and we're not talking about when Luke met Lewis!

Images and initial specifications of the refreshed MY14 Porsche Panamera have just leaked online ahead of an official release, which should follow later in the day.

As we've seen many times through the prototype models over the past year or so, the cosmetic tweaks for the first facelift of the Panamera are concentrated on the two ends, with the front gaining newly shaped headlights and bumper, and the rear end, LED tail light clusters, a new bumper, modified tailgate and a relocated license plate holder.

There aren't any visible updates to the interior in these pictures, but we will have to wait for Porsche and the official announcement to be sure.

As far as the powertrains are concerned, the revised Panamera is said to gain a new S E-Hybrid plug-in variant combining a 3.0-litre V6 unit with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack producing a combined output of 410hp, and a new new twin-turbo'd 3.0-litre V6 gasoline unit making 413-horses (419PS) that replaces the naturally aspirated 395hp (400PS) 4.8-litre V8 in the S model.

I'll update this post once Porsche released full details.

[Luke]

Wonder if they got the lithium battery's cheap from Boeings Dreamliner?

[cruiser647]

I like the gearstick centre console!

[patently]

Same as the old one. That was just lovely, though.

[eldavo69]

Far too many buttons for my liking, and this has been carried over onto the new Cayman too.

That said, if my numbers came up then a Panamera Turbo would sit in the garage as the family barge

[patently]

I like buttons

[cruiser647]

I like buttons

Me too!

(Although Mercedes have too many)

[Rachel]

Far too many buttons for my liking, and this has been carried over onto the new Cayman too.

That said, if my numbers came up then a Panamera Turbo would sit in the garage as the family barge

Unlike other marques (say Jaguar and my XKR), once you are comfortable with the car, you can just go tap a button without taking your eyes off the road while driving to change a setting or 6. Much safer, faster and easier than futzing around with a touchscreen you have to look at.

I do think the new bumper treatments are a step up, esp. relocating the rear plate from the lower part of the hatch.

The rear angle shot of the grey one does the shape no favours though.

BTW I am loving mine - toying with what to replace the R36 with now.. Cayenne GTS on 21s, or a new Cayman S...

[patently]

Unlike other marques (say Jaguar and my XKR), once you are comfortable with the car, you can just go tap a button without taking your eyes off the road while driving to change a setting or 6. Much safer, faster and easier than futzing around with a touchscreen you have to look at.

Very true.

[Andy_Bangle]

The 2014 Panamera’s big changes are the addition of an S E-Hybrid plug-in model developing 410hp (416PS), the debut of two Executive versions that come with an extended wheelbase (+150mm or 5.9 in.) and the launch of an entirely new 3.0-litre biturbo V6 engine for the Panamera S and 4S models.

Porsche also dropped the manual gearbox option, and now offers only the PDK dual clutch and 8-speed automatic transmissions.

Porsche says the new Panamera range is more economical, with fuel savings of up to 56 percent, in the case of the S E-Hybrid. The parallel, plug-in hybrid model has an electric motor producing 94hp (95PS or 70 kW), more than double the power of the previous version, and draws its energy from a new 9.4 kWh lithium-ion battery (five times the capacity of the older battery). It is linked to a 316hp V6 gasoline unit.

The S E-Hybrid has an average fuel consumption of 3.1 litres/100 km – apparently, with the use of the battery. At the same time, the hybrid is faster to 100 km/h, with an acceleration time of 5.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph). It has also a higher all-electric driving range, estimated at 36 kilometres (22.3 miles) in NEDC-based testing. Furthermore, it can reach speeds of up to 135 km/h (83.9 mph) in all-electric operation.

The battery charges within two and a half hours via the integrated on-board charger and the standard Porsche Universal Charger (AC) and in less than four hours at a conventional household electrical outlet in Germany.

The Executive models are another premiere for the Panamera, offering a 150-mm (5.9-inches) longer wheelbase which translates into a more spacious rear seating area. Available for the Turbo and 4S models, the Executive package comes with added features, more space and better ride comfort.

There’s also a new 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine that replaces the previous 4.8-litre V8 in the Panamera S and Panamera 4S, and it is also used in the Panamera 4S Executive. The new unit develops 414hp (420PS) and 520 Nm (383.5 lb-ft) of torque – 20hp and 20Nm more than the outgoing V8.

Most Panamera models are equipped with the 7-speed PDK gearbox, with the 8-speed Tiptronic S offered in the Panamera Diesel and Panamera S E-Hybrid. Another new addition to the Panamera range is the optional LED headlights.

Cosmetic tweaks include newly shaped headlights and bumper with larger air vents and different turning signals, new LED tail light clusters, a flared bumper, modified tailgate and a relocated license plate holder.

The 2014 Porsche Panamera will receive its world premiere at Auto China in Shanghai on April 21, with market launch scheduled for July 2013 in Europe.

In Germany, prices start at €81,849 for the Panamera Diesel and €83,277 for the Panamera. In 2014, Porsche will introduce a new diesel engine with 300 hp that will replace the current unit along with the top-of-the-range Panamera Turbo S and Panamera Turbo S Executive models.

[smoker]

I like the interior and a turbo engine of course