Porsche celebrates Chinese New Year with man’s best friend

Photos by Ardie O. Lopez

It’s the year of the Earth Dog for the Chinese, and Porsche fittingly celebrates it by launching what most would consider as man’s best friend.

Well, two of them actually, as faithful servants that bring utmost joy and faithful companionship well add to that exhilarating performance and unrivaled sporting luxury.

Behold the 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, and the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo.

While the Panamera is unmistakably borne out of Porsche DNA, it’s a well-bred offspring that bears the salient traits of the marque’s alpha sport coupes and SUVs, and rewards its master with a perfect balance of all of them- pulse-quickening power, breathtaking dynamics, opulent comfort and luxury, and spacious versatility.

The Porsche Panamera has always been more than a cross between a sports car and an SUV, it is first and foremost a Porsche without compromise.

Evolution towards perfection

While the first generation Porsche Panamera may have required some warming up to in the aesthetics department, it has evolved into this latest iteration that has quelled any remaining visual apprehension.

It’s sizable but sleek and fluid, spacious with its 4+1 seat concept option, and incredibly powerful beneath its sculpted sheet-metal skin.

The Panamera 4 Sport Turismo peaks at 264 km/h, while the Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo sprints all the way up to 304 km/h.

Being able to tame all that power is due in part to Porsche’s Active Aerodynamics (PAA).

The Panamera’s roof spoiler self-adjusts in three positions depending on the driving situation and preferred vehicle settings, and it generates additional downforce of up to 50 kg on the rear axle.

With an output of 550hp, 770Nm of Torque and a top speed of 304km/h via its 4.0L V8 engine, the Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo will redefine your family’s Sunday joyride.

At 170 km/h and below, its main aerodynamic guide element stays retracted at minus 7 degrees, thus reducing wind drag and fuel consumption as a result.

The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is 5,049 millimeters long, 1,428 millimeters high and 1,937 millimeters wide, while the large wheelbase spans 2,950 millimeters.

It is the first Panamera to feature three rear seats, allowing a full complement of five occupants to enjoy the thrilling ride.

In comparison with the sports saloon, the Sport Turismo’s cargo loading capacity is larger by 20 liters, providing a total of 520 liters of space.

In the driver’s cockpit of the Panamera Sport Turismo lies a crisp fusion of high technology and luxury, with its intuitive interface complemented by the finest leather and brushed alloys.

With the rear seats folded down, another 50 liters of space is gained. Still, all this function and flexibility take a backseat to unrivalled performance and driving satisfaction.

It is after all, a Porsche.

More to come

As PGA Cars’ president and CEO Roberto Coyiuto III welcomed guests and the media with traditional noodles and other sumptuous Chinese delicacies, he announced that the official launch of the new Porsche Panamera 4 Sport Turismo and Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo is but a sneak preview of what Porsche has prepared to roll out for the rest of 2018.

Check out both variants of the new Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo at any of the Porsche showrooms located in Alabang, Global City, Greenhills and SM Seaside City Cebu.