2012 Porsche Panamera Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Porsche Panamera review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Panamera, and includes Porsche Panamera safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Until the Porsche Cayenne SUV debuted almost 10 years ago, every Porsche was a two-door model, occasionally sold with teensy rear seats entirely inadequate for adults, and barely acceptable to children. When the Cayenne became the most popular Porsche in the lineup, it was clear that customers wanted something bigger that could carry the family and more than a handful of luggage. But not everybody wants an SUV. Enter the four-door Panamera in 2010, a four-passenger sports car that’s technically not a coupe, technically not a sedan, and technically not a wagon. Just don’t call it a hatchback.

New Panamera GTS, Panamera S Hybrid and Panamera Turbo S models debut for 2012, bringing the total Panamera model count to eight. The Panamera GTS is described as the model for driving purists, equipped with a 4.8-liter V8 engine that makes more horsepower and torque than the Panamera 4S. The Panamera S Hybrid pairs a supercharged V6 with an electric motor and a battery pack to get up to 30 mpg. The Panamera Turbo S massages the Turbo model’s twin-turbocharged V8 to make 550 horsepower and as much as 590 pound-feet of torque in “Overboost” mode.

Other changes include the addition of Lane Change Assistant technology, which functions like a blind spot warning system. Paint-to-sample and leather-to-sample options are now available, along with new leather packages, a sports exhaust system, and black housings for the available bi-Xenon headlights. Porsche also installs new coat hooks on the Panamera’s B-pillar. Bad news if you wanted your Panamera painted Jet Green: that’s color is discontinued.

With eight different Panamera models from which to choose, deciding which one is right for you might be difficult. We’ll try to sort everything out in the sections that follow.

At the bottom of the lineup, Porsche offers the Panamera and the Panamera 4, the latter equipped with an active all-wheel-drive system. Key standard features include heated eight-way power front comfort seats, individual rear bucket seats with folding center armrests, a flow-through center console dividing the front and rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose surround sound system with an auxiliary audio input jack and a USB port, and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with a hard-drive navigation system, a seven-inch in-dash touchscreen, and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. Additionally, the standard Panamera is equipped with 18-inch aluminum wheels, bi-Xenon headlights, LED taillights, rain-sensing wipers, and water-repellent side window glass. The standard equipment list also includes a power liftgate, a HomeLink programmable remote control, rear ParkAssist sensors, a multi-function steering wheel, and a driver information display screen embedded into the gauge cluster.

If you decide to upgrade to the Panamera S or the all-wheel drive Panamera 4S, you’ll swap the standard 300-horsepower V6 engine for a 400-horsepower V8 engine. Otherwise, the Panamera S and Panamera 4S are equipped like the standard models, except they come with silver brake calipers, a unique 18-inch alloy wheel design, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM).

New for 2012, the all-wheel-drive Panamera GTS is aimed at traditional driving enthusiasts. It comes with a slightly more powerful V8 engine than is found in the Panamera S models, as well as a sport suspension, sport exhaust system, leather and Alcantara adaptive front sport seats, a SportDesign steering wheel with paddle shifters, and 19-inch wheels lifted from the Panamera Turbo. The Turbo also donates its SportDesign styling, automatically deploying and retractable rear spoiler, and front lighting elements with black headlight housings. The GTS also gets gloss black body trim, matte black lower body paint, and a Sport Plus driving mode that stiffens and lowers the suspension, quickens shift points, expands the threshold of engagement for the Porsche Stability Management (PSM), and adds a Launch Control feature to the drivetrain.

If you lean towards green, Porsche offers the Panamera S Hybrid. It looks just like the Panamera S except for discrete “hybrid” badges and unique energy displays in the gauge cluster. Bi-Xenon headlights, 18-inch Panamera S wheels with low rolling-resistance tires, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, an adaptive air suspension, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Servotronic steering, and a rear window wiper are standard on this model.

Next on the menu is the Panamera Turbo. You can tell it apart from other Panameras by its red brake calipers and 19-inch alloy wheels. A freer-breathing exhaust system is also standard, along with front and rear ParkAssist. Inside, the Panamera Turbo receives 14-way power comfort seats with memory, a power adjustable steering column, an Alcantara headliner, a Bose 5.1 surround sound premium audio system, and keyless Porsche Entry & Drive.

The new Panamera Turbo S sits at the top of the lineup, equipped with the most powerful engine and most expensive price tag. In exchange for the healthy chunk of change this model commands, buyers get a Sport Chrono Package Turbo with a Sport mode that activates the Turbo S model’s “Overboost” and “Launch Control” functions, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (an active body roll control system), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (improves handling with a variable torque split at the rear wheels combined with limited-slip differential), a sport exhaust system, speed-sensitive power steering, and a display showing longitudinal and latitudinal acceleration metrics. The Panamera Turbo S is also equipped with a unique titanium-look engine cover, Porsche Exclusive rocker panel skirts, 20-inch wheels, a two-tone interior treatment, and special badges. Agate Gray Metallic is an exclusive color for this model.

There is no shortage of options for a 2012 Porsche Panamera. Highlights – depending on the model selected – include 18-way power adaptive sport seats, eight-way power rear comfort seats, front heated and/or ventilated seats, rear heated and/or ventilated seats, a Rear Interior Lighting Package, and four-zone automatic climate control. Adaptive Cruise Control is an extra-cost item, along with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDDC), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV-Plus), Sport Chrono Plus with Launch Control, an adaptive suspension, adaptive headlights, and Servotronic speed-sensitive steering. Satellite radio is an option, best listened to over the Burmeister premium audio system with 1,000 watts of power and 16 loudspeakers designed specifically for this car. The Panamera can also be equipped with a rear seat entertainment system, front and rear ParkAssist, a reversing camera, Porsche Entry & Drive, a power sunroof, a heated steering wheel, a SportDesign steering wheel with paddle shifters, rear and rear side window screens, and a ski bag.

A direct-injected, 3.6-liter V6 engine making 300 horsepower is installed in the Panamera and the Panamera 4. Derived from the 4.8-liter V8 engine offered in other Panamera models, this is the first V6 ever developed by Porsche, and is paired to a Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) automatic manual transmission equipped with Auto Stop/Start technology.

According to Porsche, the Panamera accelerates to 60 mph in six seconds and attains a top speed of 160 mph. The Panamera 4 adds an active all-wheel-drive system, dropping acceleration to 60 mph to 5.8 seconds and trimming top speed to 159 mph. The EPA says the Panamera gets 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, burning premium fuel. Get the Panamera 4S, and highway fuel economy drops to 26 mpg.

The Panamera S and Panamera 4S are powered by a direct-injected, 4.8-liter V8 generating 400 horsepower. The PDK transmission is standard, and the 4S model is equipped with active AWD and Porsche Traction Management (PTM). Acceleration to 60 mph takes 5.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 175 mph in the Panamera S. Thanks to PTM, the Panamera 4S rushes to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. Both models are rated to get 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

New for 2012, the Panamera GTS is also equipped with a 4.8-liter V8 and PDK, but is tuned to develop 430 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to produce 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and a terminal velocity of 178 mph. All-wheel drive and PTM are standard on this model, which has not been rated for fuel economy by the EPA as this report is published.

Believe it or not, Porsche builds a hybrid version of the Panamera, dubbed the S Hybrid. It comes with a supercharged V6 engine, an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission, a rechargeable nickel-metal hydride battery pack, and an electric motor, together responsible for a combined 380 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. The stopwatch clicks in at 5.7 seconds as the Panamera S Hybrid accelerates to its top speed of 167 mph. Fuel economy ratings are 22-city/30-highway.

Considered to be a “full hybrid,” the Panamera S Hybrid can attain a speed of 46 mph on the battery juice alone. An E-Power button provides electric-only propulsion until battery is drained, and an E-Boost function allows the electric motor to assist the gasoline engine when extra power is desirable. A “sailing” mode shuts the engine off when the Panamera is coasting.

The next big bump in power and performance comes with the Panamera Turbo, which is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 good for 500 horsepower and 517 pound-feet of torque. The standard PDK distributes power to all four wheels, four seconds is all it takes to hit 60 mph, and top speed is 188 mph. Fuel economy takes a hit with this model, landing at 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

This year, a new range-topping model arrives in the form of the Panamera Turbo S. Like the Panamera Turbo, this model is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8. But the Turbo S is massaged to muster 550 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. In “Overboost” mode, the engine’s torque peak rises to 590 lb-ft for short periods of time. Acceleration to 60 mph takes just 3.6 seconds, and the Turbo S blurs by the 100-mph mark in 8.3 seconds heading for a top speed of 190 mph.

In all Panamera models, a Sport button alters the car’s throttle response and transmission shifts for a more engaging driving experience. In Sport mode, the Auto Stop/Start system is disengaged, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) systems switch to sportier tuning, and for the Panamera 4S and Turbo models, the Porsche Traction Management system (PTM) feeds more power to the rear wheels than the front wheels for extra agility and athleticism.

Eight airbags come standard on the 2012 Porsche Panamera, including knee airbags for front seat occupants. Additionally, every model is equipped with vented and grooved four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, Porsche Stability Management (PSM), rear ParkAssist sensors, and rain-sensing wipers. Optional safety-related features include a reversing camera, adaptive headlights, and a new-for-2012 Lane Change Assistant that essentially operates like a blind-spot monitoring system.

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash tests on the 2012 Porsche Panamera. Similarly, Consumer Reports makes no predictions for long-term reliability. The only rating we have to report is a predicted reliability rating from J.D. Power and Associates that indicates the market research firm believes the Panamera will return better than average levels of dependability over time.

Porsche says the Panamera’s width-to-height ratio is even greater than that of the iconic Porsche 911.

Yes, the Panamera’s ignition key is inserted into the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel in traditional Porsche fashion, a trait first established by the company while it was competing in the 24 Hours of LeMans in the 1950s. With this type of design, Porsche’s racing drivers could simultaneously start the engine with their left hand and shift into gear with their right hand, getting the jump on competitors.

Porsche sells luggage designed specifically for the Panamera’s cargo area, which measures 15.7 cubic-feet except for Turbo and Turbo S models, which have 15.2 cu-ft of space, and the Panamera S Hybrid, which offers 11.8 cubes of volume. Fold the rear seats, and a Panamera can swallow up to 44.6 cu-ft of stuff.

Porsche characterizes the Panamera’s brakes as “several times more powerful than the vehicle’s engine.” Good to know.

The Porsche Panamera’s base curb weight is 3,880 lbs., and the coefficient of drag is 0.29.

You can’t think of the Porsche Panamera as an extended-length 911 with room for four people. This is a completely different car sitting on a completely different platform, a vehicle that is much larger and heavier than the iconic 911, and one that seemingly defies certain laws of physics. This is a Gran Turismo, a Porsche built for comfortable long-distance touring, a car that competes against the equally appealing Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS. We’re not partial to the Porsche, but when you’re spending this kind of cash, do you really care what anyone else thinks?

-- By Christian Wardlaw