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Purists may not love the notion of a four-door model, but the 2010 Porsche Panamera has proven to be a resounding success, especially in the U.S. market. Don’t expect the Stuttgart-based automaker to rest upon its laurels. The 2011 Panamera is slated to receive some enhancements to improve fuel economy and handling.
On the fuel economy front, Porsche has optimized the start/stop feature on all 2011 Panamera models with a V-8 engine (i.e. S, 4S, and Turbo), and added regenerative braking to the 2011 Panamera Turbo. Although we typically hear of such a system being fitted to hybrid vehicles, Porsche — like BMW often does — uses regen braking to recoup energy typically lost in braking and funnel it to the battery. According to the automaker, this cuts down on the alternator’s load, and improves the engine’s fuel consumption (and, feasibly, its performance). Additionally, low rolling-resistance 19-inch all-season tires are now an optional feature.
Combined, these improvements reportedly improve fuel economy on the Turbo and S models by 2 mpg (up to 21 and 23 mpg combined on the European combined cycle), and 1 mpg on the all-wheel-drive Panamera 4S. We’ve yet to see finalized U.S. fuel economy figures from the EPA for any Porsche, let alone the 2011 Panamera range.
Enthusiasts will likely be more interested in the mechanical upgrades lurking between the rear wheels. For 2011, Panamera S, 4S, and Turbo models will be available with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+), which combines an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential with an electronic braking function. PTV+ will brake the inside rear wheel in a corner, allowing the car to rotate and improving cornering.
Other revisions for 2011 include new GPS maps that include both satellite imagery and speed limits on major roadways, and a revised wheel-mounted gearshift design, both of which are optional.
Source: Porsche
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