Meet the Sport Turismo, based closely on the 2012 concept of the same name and intended as an almost-as-practical but sportier foil to Porsche’s high-riding SUVs. With the latest Panamera’s more sportscar inspired looks, and a far from boxy new rear end, it’s as close as you can get to a 911 for the family.
The body is all new from the B-pillars back and, like the concept, makes for a handsome beast. It is no bigger than the regular Panamera, at just over 5 metres in length, and has the same balanced proportions thanks to its long wheelbase and relatively short overhangs.
How much more practical in shooting brake form is it? The regular Panamera is after all a four-door with lift-up tailgate and fold-down rear seats. The Sport Turismo takes things further by opening up the rear of the cabin in usual estate car fashion.
In terms of outright space, though, it’s more Mini Clubman than Merc E-Class wagon, offering a maximum load area of 1,390 litres –which is only 50 litres more than the Panamera sedan offers. No estate car transformation then but the load space does promise to be a lot easier to access, with its bigger (power-operated) tailgate and lower loading height (628mm, so an easy labrador leap).
The new 2+1 rear compartment has a seat split of 40:20:40 so the one in the middle will need to be narrow-hipped. The backrests have electronic catches and can be flipped down individually to extend the flat load floor.
A trick new spoiler integrated into the rear edge of the roof stays down until 105mph when it extends to increase downforce. In other ways, the Sport Turismo mirrors the Panamera sedan in its mechanical layout and also in the array of new features, introduced with the 2016 new model, such as the all-digital cockpit. As well as adaptive cruise control, rear axle steering and electronic roll stabilisation, all Sport Turismos come as standard with all-wheel drive. S models in addition, get adaptive air suspension.
After a world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on March 7th the order books will open and first UK deliveries start October. There will be five engines on offer, including the 455bhp 113mpg hybrid and the 542bhp Turbo. The entry Panamera 4 Sport Turismo with 325bhp kicks off the range at £73,071.
Porsche
Panamera
Sport Turismo
Geneva 2017
