Porsche Panamera V6, complete with Porsche engine

Porsche has added two new models to the Panamera family – both of which are powered by a newly designed six-cylinder Porsche engine. These additions round out this spectacular five-door hatchback’s line of products. With the double-clutch Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission and the automatic Stop-Start function, they’re not technically anaemic versions of the V8 versions either. Plus, all the performance accessories are also available for these new vehicles.

Can you see the difference?

At first glance, the first versions and the new V6 models seem identical. But upon closer inspection, there are some subtle differences. You’ll note that the trim around the side windows is chrome on the V8 models, but matte black on the Panamera and the Panamera 4. On the V8 versions, the exhaust tips are round, whereas the six-cylinder cars have oval, brushed steel tips that flatten toward the exterior. What’s more, the Panamera V6s feature five-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels through which you can see the black brake calipers. If you see yellow, you know they’re ceramic brakes.

Inside the vehicle, the quality of the materials and the assembly is impeccable. And the front seats are remarkably comfortable. These electronically controlled seats can be adjusted for seat height and inclination, seat back angle, and front-back positioning. The optional Adaptive Sport Seats feature bolstered sides. In contrast, the back bench is really meant for two people, with the third place reserved for occasional use only. Like on other models in this line, two-zone climate control lets you control different settings for driver and passenger. A four-zone climate control system is available on option. A sound system with a seven-inch touch screen, ten speakers and a total output of 100 watts is also included factory-standard. If that’s not enough, you can opt for the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system, the BOSE® Surround Sound system or the Burmester® High-End Surround Sound system.

A first

Until now, Porsche offered several different V6 engines, but they all came from Volkswagen. The 3.6-litre V6 that now powers the Panamera and Panamera 4 is the first V6 engine made by Porsche for a production model. It’s the same as the eight-cylinder engine found in the Panamera S and the Panamera 4S, but minus two cylinders. Like the V8, the V6 offers direct fuel injection, a variable valve timing system (VarioCam Plus), an on-demand oil pump, water cooling with thermal management, dry carter and automatic stop-start function.

The engine’s different electronic controls allow you to modify its output according to your needs of the day. The Sport setting, available factory-standard, delivers more nervous accelerations. And you can get even better than that on the vehicles equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), adaptive air suspension and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) because the chassis calibration is adjusted on these vehicles. The double-clutch PDK transmission’s settings are also automatically adjusted to improve performances.

The Sport Chrono accessory package includes an analogue timer, the Sport Plus button and a performance indicator that displays your lap time on the PCM (available on option on the Panamera V6).

Exemplary fuel economy

In general, sports cars are not known for their modest appetites. The Panamera’s V6 engines, however, give you the best of Panamera driving with reasonable fuel economy. You should note, though, that in Canada the two Panameras with V6s come with automatic PDK transmissions. It makes sense. But check it out for yourself.

In other markets, the models featuring the manual six-speed gearbox consume less than 10 L/100 km. However, the Panamera with PDK consumes 9.11 L/100 km. What’s more, this automatic seven-speed transmission can get you from 0 to 100 km/hr in 6.3 seconds (compared to 6.8 seconds with the manual gearbox). As for the AWD version, it can accomplish the same feat in 6.1 seconds and does not come with a manual transmission in any market. Better yet, in Sport Plus mode, the Panamera 4 remains one tenth of a second under the magic threshold of 6 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/hr.

Whatever model you choose, you can benefit from the Stop-Start function. This system cuts the engine as soon as the car stops – for example, at a red light or in a traffic jam – and the brake pedal is activated. When the driver eases off the brake, the engine starts up again. The audio and communications systems stay on, even when the engine shuts off, and the climate control maintains the temperature at the pre-selected setting. Should the electrical power needs increase, the engine restarts.

Fuel consumption is also reduced thanks to energy recovered during braking, which charges the battery. However, during accelerations, the generator charging current is reduced and the thermal engine therefore sends less power to recharge the battery.

Sensational!

People tend to choose the most powerful engine, the one that offers canon-like performances with out-of-this world speeds. But this can be to the detriment of the vehicle’s general balance and agility. Often, the versions with V6 engines are better balanced and deliver very similar performances – and yet, they’re not as popular. We were not able to do a comparison drive of the V8 and V6s, so it’s hard to know if the vehicles were hindered by the heavier V8. But one thing can be sure: the V6 models bring more than sufficient performances with impressive agility and stability on turns.

A test drive in the outlying areas of Cologne, Germany, gave us the chance to assess the agility of both versions. A good portion of the road was both winding and narrow, but that did not intimidate the Panamera V6. It remains to be seen which model is best. The RWD Panamera V6 goes for $88,000, whereas the AWD version costs $4,000 more. And, of course, those prices climb quickly if you decide to add on options. Some are justifiable, particularly if they improve performances and road handling. Other options, however, really depend on the situation.

Whichever you choose, the Panamera V6 will impress you with its comfort, performances and overall driving pleasure.