The Panamera doesn’t usually pop up when we play the “name a Porsche” game. The 911? Sure. The Boxster? Of course. And with the world buzzing about the all-electric Taycan, the Panamera often gets lost in the shuffle, wedged somewhere between the popular Cayenne and Macan SUVs.

But here’s the thing: Porsche hasn’t forgotten the Panamera. It’s back, sharper and more comfortable than ever.

A car with very few true rivals (maybe the Mercedes-AMG GT four-door comes close), the Panamera straddles the line between agile sports car and high-performance grand tourer.

Balance is everything

This is the entry-level Panamera, and you’re looking at a V6 that’s been tweaked to deliver 349bhp and 500Nm. Not bad, but don’t expect a roar when you hit the gas. The V6 hums along, occasionally needing more of a nudge than you’d expect to gather pace on the highway.

But give the paddles a flick, click it into Sport mode, and things start to wake up. It’s satisfying because you actually get to feel like you’re using the engine to its limit, and not just tapping into some beastly reserve power that’s overkill for daily driving.

How’s the ride quality?

Rock solid. The brakes are confidence-inspiring, and the steering feels natural, responsive, and composed. Even though this model sports a simpler air suspension with adaptive dampers compared to the active suspension found on the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, it’s still a joy in the corners.

And for those keeping track, the old PDDC active anti-roll system has been replaced by this new tech. So, we’re moving into a new era of road-hugging brilliance.

And you look good driving fast

The Panamera’s redesign is like a band switching to an acoustic set; familiar, yet stripped back. 

The front is sharper, the headlamps a bit squarer, and the rear lights now sweep across the entire back like a clean line drawn with a ruler. That third window now sports a little kink.

To the untrained eye, it honestly looks the same as its predecessor. But, these subtle changes help it maintain relevancy in today’s competitive market.

Inside is where it counts

Step into the cockpit, and you’re immediately reminded this is a proper low-slung coupe. It wraps around you, almost like it’s drawing you into its world.

The interface is mostly glass; there’s a 12.6-inch instrument screen, and a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen stacked with menus and icons, controlling the car’s treasure trove of settings.

Below that, there’s another black panel for climate control. It lights up when the car’s on, giving you a slight haptic feedback when you touch it. It works, but we’d still prefer old-school buttons. Thankfully, some physical toggles survived the touch takeover.

The cabin is impeccably put together, no doubt. Everything feels solid, except the lid above the phone charging mat. It’s a bit flimsy, which is unfortunate because it’s probably the one thing you’ll be opening all the time.

Oh, and if you’re into screens (or just spoiling your passenger princesses), you can opt for a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen or throw in two 10.1-inch rear-seat screens. But let’s be real, your passengers will use them once, then either get bored or car sick. 

As for the back seats, they’re snug. With vents and sockets, the rear passengers won’t be too unhappy, though. And the middle tunnel on the four-seater option keeps siblings from waging territorial wars.

The optional 4+1 seat is, well, barely a seat. But the backrest splits 40:20:40, so you can chuck your skis or whatever in there with ease.

The boot is functional, but we’re not in estate territory anymore (RIP, Sport Turismo). The rear seats fold down, so you can fit more than a couple of weekend bags if needed.

And, because this is a Porsche, you could burn a fortune customising everything from the seats to the leather colour, stitching, seatbelts… the list goes on and on.

A winner

Porsche might label this Panamera as ‘all-new,’ but let’s call a spade a spade; it’s a seriously deep update of the previous model. And that’s absolutely fine.

The Panamera remains a unique beast, being a sports car from the front doors onwards, and a grand tourer from the rest of the body back. It feels as solidly built as you’d expect from Porsche, and every single control has that satisfying precision you just can’t fake. It’s comfortable, refined, and packed with luxury, even without splurging on those fancy options.

It is still very much in the game, and it’s playing to win.

Technical Specifications

Porsche Panamera

Engine: 2,894cc V6, Twin-Turbocharged
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 349bhp 
Torque: 500Nm
Gearbox: 8-Speed PDK (A)
0-100km/h: 5.3 seconds 
Top Speed: 272 km/h
Fuel Economy: 10.5 km/litre

Price: $498,468 without COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Porsche Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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Launched through a collaboration between Porsche Asia Pacific, Porsche Digital, and Porsche AG, Porsche Privilege is integrated directly within the My Porsche app. It’s a gateway into an immersive Porsche universe, bridging the digital and physical realms.

According to Dr. Henrik Dreier, Director of New Business Fields at Porsche Asia Pacific, the programme embodies the brand’s commitment to going beyond just making sports cars. “Porsche Privilege reflects our core values, offering customers and fans unique experiences that extend well beyond driving. It’s a convenient, digitally intuitive way to tap into a carefully curated ecosystem of brand partners, enriching the ownership journey.”

What does Porsche Privilege offer?

The programme is available to any Porsche ID holder in Singapore, meaning you don’t even have to own a Porsche to join the fun. Open to individuals aged 18 and above, it’s Porsche’s way of reaching out to a broader community, making sure that the brand isn’t just for owners but for all enthusiasts.

For those who do own a Porsche, especially those who’ve bought their vehicles through official channels, the perks get even sweeter. Partner brands like Mandarin Oriental Singapore, BOSS, TAG Heuer, Leica, and local favourites like Baker & Cook and Lo & Behold Group are all part of the mix.

Every Porsche vehicle purchase, or even lifestyle merchandise acquisition, earns you tokens. These tokens can be exchanged for exclusive items from Porsche Lifestyle, or for experiences from brand partners.

As Porsche gears up to open the Porsche Experience Centre Singapore, expect dynamic driving programmes to be part of the offerings too.

For those who enjoy a little friendly competition, Porsche Privilege introduces ‘Challenges’, where you can earn badges, which are non-transferable crypto tokens. These badges act as digital bragging rights, showcasing your loyalty and enthusiasm for the brand.

You can share them within the community and use them as unique personality identifiers. Challenges range from purchasing a new Porsche sports car to logging visits at Porsche partner locations.

Tokens earned through purchases or challenges are valid for 36 months, giving users ample time to indulge in this exclusive Porsche universe. And with more features to be announced through push notifications in the My Porsche app, the experience will keep evolving.

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The 960-metre-long KF1 Kranji circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, transformed into a battlefield of endurance on 15 June 2024.

Media folks and influencers were grouped into teams of three, stepping into a 144-minute race.

A tribute to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this second iteration offered a taste of what endurance racing is all about – strategic pit stops, relentless focus, and teamwork.

What’s a Porsche event without a dash of history? The karts were dressed in iconic Porsche liveries like the ‘Salzburg’ of the 1970 Le Mans-winning 917 and the colourful ‘Apple Computer’ livery from the 1980 Le Mans 935.

Each livery represented a piece of Porsche’s unparalleled legacy of 19 Le Mans wins, aiming for its 20th in 2024.

Evenly matched karts meant that racecraft, quick thinking, and minimising downtime were key. And this year, Porsche Singapore made it even more inclusive with a new ‘Pro-Am’ Class, inviting both seasoned racers and newbies to share the track and the thrill.

And the Winners Are…

After a gruelling race under the night sky, Ben Yang, Caden Tan, and Rohan Mathew took home the trophy in the Pro Class. Nicola Loiacono, Jonathan Lim, and Tan De Shuen grabbed second place in the Pro Class, with Daryl Wong, Sean Tan, and William Tan rounding out the podium.

In the Pro-Am Class, Daniel Tam, Mark Yeow, and Xiang Yeow emerged victorious. Congratulations to all the winners!

Each participant was also gifted a customised racer portrait, inspired by classic Le Mans posters.

The evening wrapped up with a live screening of the start of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. Amid the cheers and friendly banter, industry colleagues supported different race teams, bringing the global spirit of Le Mans to our local track.

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20 gleaming Porsche Taycan sports cars were lined up at Laguna National Golf Resort Club in Singapore, creating a remarkable moment as Porsche Singapore proudly handed them over to the DP World Tour Porsche Singapore Classic 2024 as official shuttle vehicles for the tournament.

The picturesque setting at the 17th hole of the course provided a breathtaking backdrop for Andre Brand, General Manager of Porsche Singapore, to hand over the cars to Patrick Bowers, Executive Championship Director of the tournament.

With only days before the tournament begins, Singaporean golf enthusiasts can look forward to spotting these specially decorated official shuttle vehicles on the road.

Here’s the Taycan fact sheet in brief. Rear-wheel drive, 326hp or 380hp depending on spec, with 408hp in over-boost mode with Launch Control. 0-100km/h in just 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 230km/h. Five to 80% battery charge takes just 22.5 minutes at the maximum charge rate of 225kW.

The DP World Tour Porsche Singapore Classic 2024 from 21–24 March promises to be an electrifying showcase of golfing prowess and sportsmanship.

As one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the region, it attracts top players from around the world to compete on the challenging Classic Course at Laguna National Golf Resort Club in Singapore, with famous names such as Rasmus Højgaard, Tom McKibbin and Yannik Paul confirmed to be attending.

The trio will be joined by 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, who won his maiden DP World Tour title at last month’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, and Asian stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Gavin Green and Li Haotong.

Singapore will be represented by three golfers – Nicklaus Chiam, Joshua Yap and amateur Irvyn Tan qualified for the US$2,500,000 Porsche Singapore Classic last month.

“We are thrilled to partner with Porsche Singapore for this prestigious kick-off on the DP World Tour’s ‘Asian Swing’,” said Mr Patrick Bowers, Executive Championship Director of the Porsche Singapore Classic 2024.

“The handover of these 20 Porsche Taycan sports cars adds an extra layer of excitement to our event, we cannot wait for everyone to catch these brightly emblazoned sports cars shuttling our guests around the island during tournament season,” Mr Bowers continued.

“Porsche has always stood for exhilarating performance, and the Taycan is our commitment to typical Porsche performance with cutting-edge innovation and sustainable electromobility,” said Mr. Andre Brand, General Manager Porsche Singapore.

“With these 20 Taycan sports cars as the official shuttle vehicles of the upcoming 2024 Porsche Singapore Classic, we are proud to start our players’ journeys with a thrilling welcome to Singapore,” added Mr Brand.

With the partnership between Porsche and the Singapore Classic, the sports car manufacturer is internationalising its activities in professional golf and affording its worldwide customers and fans additional exclusive brand experiences.

The deal complements Porsche’s current worldwide activities in customer sport, revolving around the Porsche Golf Cup and the Porsche Golf Circle.

Children aged 16 and under receive complimentary entry when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket at the 2024 Porsche Singapore Classic. In addition, the spectator village will feature a multitude of activities, food & beverage and entertainment options for golfers and non-golfers alike, including the opportunity for spectators to qualify in the Porsche Panamera Shootout, where a hole-in-one gets them a brand-new Porsche Panamera Turbo E Hybrid.

Visit the Porsche Singapore Classic 2024 website, and get your tickets here.

Photo Credits: Porsche

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Porsche has expanded its digital offerings to enhance overall customer experience and provide greater convenience. Through their dedicated vehicle platform, Porsche Finder, customers can now access a new reservation function, allowing them to ‘soft-book’ their desired car by paying a fee of $1,500.

This addition complements the existing features of Porsche Finder, which include detailed information on exterior and interior colours, equipment options, and pricing. Following the online car reservations, customers have the opportunity to visit the Porsche NOW pop-up at Guoco Tower for consultations with Porsche Pros who are stationed there.

Furthermore, Porsche Singapore has revamped its e-commerce platform, PorscheShop.SG, with a contemporary interface and what they refer to as a “responsive design” optimised for mobile browsing.

PorscheShop.SG offers a comprehensive range of Porsche LifeStyle, Porsche Design, and Porsche Originals products. Noteworthy features include a Stylebook section featuring season-specific curated looks, as well as a Stories module that provides insights into the latest developments within international Porsche communities.

For added convenience, PorscheShop.SG offers free shipping for orders exceeding $100, and customers also have the option of ‘self pick-up’ through the Porsche NOW pop-up, which has gained popularity.

Interestingly, Porsche Singapore has alluded to the potential integration of PorscheShop.SG with other peripheral Porsche online systems in the future, suggesting further enhancements to their online services.

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