REPORT: Porsche Panamera will evade gas guzzler tax
2010 Porsche Panamera – Click above for high-res image gallery
As far as high-end sports cars go, the Porsche lineup is pretty fuel efficient. Light weight and six-cylinder engines usually do the trick, but those attributes don't exactly describe the new Panamera. The large, four-door Porsche comes standard with a bare minimum of 400 horsepower, and while it isn't a Biggest Loser candidate, it won't balance the scales of justice with a GT3 on the opposing dish, either.
Inside Line is reporting that the impressive size and power of the Panamera won't lead to a gas guzzler tax, citing an email from Porsche Cars North America spokesman Gary Fong that reportedly tabs fuel economy for the 4.8-liter, 400-horsepower Panamera S and 4S models at an impressive 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The 500 pony Panamera Turbo will reportedly still have a respectable 15/23 rating. For comparison's sake, Maserati's rival Quattroporte GT S achieves just 12 mpg/18 highway, and it is down 66 horses on the Porsche.
Fuel economy numbers for the Panamera are surprisingly handsome, beating even some sport coupes in the $100,000+ range. Reasons for the car's remarkable fuel economy numbers include its dual clutch transmission and the inclusion of start/stop technology. The Environmental Protection Agency hasn't yet published the official fuel economy numbers for the range, so we'll just have to sit tight for now with these preliminary figures.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BigMcLargeHuge 10:58AM (9/11/2009)
Great news!
Now let us all race to the dealership and see who can get one first. I'd better hurry, I don't want to be last behind a whole line of autobloggers dying to own a Panamera.
Ready? Set? Go!
Seriously though, this is great technology. I only wish they'd done it in a 2+2 or put smaller doors in the rear a-la Mazda RX-8.
Cut out that limo-stretched middle section and they'd have a winner of a touring car. Comfy and fast!
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TigerMil 11:07AM (9/11/2009)
And hopefully Porsche will have a programmable setting to eliminate the stop/start BS for, umm, spirited driving!
sparrk 12:13PM (9/11/2009)
you can turn off the Stop/Start function.
Dondonel 11:00AM (9/11/2009)
The fuel consumption if true is indeed very good for a DOHC V8, which so far had appalling mpg ratings. Still, part of that 24mpg hwy rating comes from the low profile of the car and the non-torque converter automatic transmission.
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TigerMil 11:06AM (9/11/2009)
16/23 for the Audi DOHC V8 2009 A8
Pretty respectable although only 350hp considering the Cd of Audi's flagship.
The Panamera is quite a bit lower and more slippery I suspect.
zamafir 11:32AM (9/11/2009)
better economy than an R32? sign me up!
Dondonel 11:01AM (9/11/2009)
The fuel consumption if true is indeed very good for a DOHC V8, which
so far had appalling mpg ratings. Still, part of that 24mpg hwy rating
comes from the low profile of the car and the non-torque converter
automatic transmission.
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Art 11:10AM (9/11/2009)
i guarantee you those figures hold true if you upshift to 6th to do any acceleration, and aren;t attainable in A mode.
or, A mode is HORRIBLE and unusably fuel efficient
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:14AM (9/11/2009)
The EPA must correct our testing so that you can't just make a vehicle with start/stop (optional in this case!) as an end-around to making an actual efficient vehicle. No $100,000 car buyer is going to use start/stop, so they're just lying with figures.
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Bus Rand 1:23PM (9/11/2009)
Exactly why is more socialist control a good idea? Where are the true benefits in our society from this type of thinking? The EPA needs to focus on real environmental issues, not political ones.
Farris 11:19AM (9/11/2009)
Does the Panamera have direct injection?
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JF 2:05PM (9/11/2009)
Right in line with the Camaro SS and Challenger R/T as far as power and mpg goes. Of course the price point is a different market though.
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JF 2:13PM (9/11/2009)
I'm talking about the 4.8 of course
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X3S2000 2:23PM (9/11/2009)
Never noticed how much this bodystyle mimics the CrossTour until I saw the post right above this one.
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