With 11 different variants filling out Porsche’s Panamera lineup, it can get a little dicey keeping track of the hierarchy. We find that the best way to keep things in order is by looking at the spec sheet, which serves as a subtle reminder that not only does the 2014 Panamera Turbo S sit atop the model’s lineup, it’s also pretty ridiculous—and we mean that in the nicest way imaginable. Slated to make its world premiere at the Tokyo auto show next month, the Panamera Turbo S churns up 570 horsepower and a backside-compressing 553 lb-ft of torque. And for the first time, Porsche will fit its highest-po engine into the Panamera’s Executive model, which adds 5.9 inches of wheelbase and 4.7 inches of added rear-seat legroom—you know, for fearless execs who like to indulge their chauffeurs.
It Don’t Come Easy
The Panamera Turbo S’s mill begins life as the same powerplant that powers the plebeian Panamera Turbo: a 520-hp, 4.8-liter twin-turbo V-8. In order to get to the 570-hp mark, which is an increase of 20 horses over last year’s model, engineers added a pair of turbochargers with larger compressors and increased fuel-injector pressure from 120 bar to 140. To cope with additional stress, pistons crafted from a special aluminum alloy with specially coated piston rings have been fitted. Of course, this all backs up to Porsche’s impressive seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic.
Despite those increases, fuel economy actually improves by a claimed 11 percent compared to the previous Turbo S model. Porsche says that the new model is good for 23 mpg in the European cycle. (For reference’s sake, the 2014 Panamera Turbo has been EPA-rated for 15 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, so expect numbers slightly down from those.)
But what goes in must come out, and the optional sports-exhaust system features the same sound symposer that debuted on the Panamera GTS two years ago, allowing exhaust gasses to sing through an acoustic channel that sends the engine note directly into the cabin by means of a driver-activated switch.
Porsche says both the standard issue and stretched Executive edition—more on that in a moment—are good for a top speed of 192 mph. Captains of industry and world leaders who spend their downtime slumming it at the drag strip will be pleased to learn that the Executive only gives up two-tenths to its standard-wheelbase counterpart in the quarter-mile, running it in 12 seconds to the standard Turbo S’s 11.8. Using launch control, Porsche claims a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.6 seconds regardless of wheelbase length.
Members Only
Once seated in the back of the Turbo S Executive, power brokers will find extra an interior-lighting package and a large center console that Porsche says is designed specifically for the rear compartment. Thermal- and noise-insulated windows with privacy glazing help to keep the chauffeured suitably removed from reality. Executive buyers receive standard heated and cooled front and rear seats, while the shorter-wheelbase Turbo S has just heated rears—a pity, really. Shoppers will have their choice of a number of two-tone leather interiors, each featuring Porsche crests embossed on the front headrests.
For those who are interested in driving themselves, it will take $181,295 to drive away from the local Porsche dealer in a Panamera Turbo S. For those who wish to be driven—again, a pity—will need to part with a cool $201,495 for a Panamera Turbo S Executive. Porsche began taking orders today, and American deliveries will begin in January of next year.
Andrew Wendler brings decades of wrenching, writing, and editorial experience with numerous outlets to Car and Driver. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Car and Driver, Esquire, Forbes, Hot Rod, Motor Trend, MPH, MSN, and Popular Mechanics, among others. A Rust Belt native and tireless supporter of the region, he grew up immersed in automotive, marine, and aviation culture. A lifetime of hands-on experience and a healthy dose of skepticism provide him the tools to deliver honest and informative news, reviews, and editorial perspective. Of note, he once won a $5 bet by walking the entire length of the elevated People Mover up track that encircles downtown Detroit.
