Ohio-based tuning specialist, Switzer Performance, is fast making a name for itself in the aftermarket industry, having created a growing number of projects that include the Nissan GT-R E900 and the Porsche 911 GT2.
Their latest program is for the Porsche Panamera Turbo and as you can expect, Switzer gave it a robust tuning upgrade. They added their newly developed P680 hardware on the German luxury saloon’s 4.4-liter V8 engine and its resulting output from the standard 500 horsepower and 516 lb/ft of torque to a mouth-watering 680 horsepower and right about 700 lb/ft of torque.
In addition to the P680 hardware, the added boost in output was also aided by the addition of a new intercooler system and the company’s own Siemens ECU upgrade. All in all, the Switzer-tuned Panamera Turbo is now capable of hitting 0-60 mph in a little over three seconds with a top speed of 215 mph. The whole package is now available for a base price of $22,000, which may sound like a fortune, except for the fact that it does give the Panamera enough boost to become a gnarly monster.
For that price tag, it’s good enough for us.
Russian tuner, Topcar, has apparently been on a mission to develop the biggest and baddest tuning package for the Porsche Panamera Turbo. They started off with the creation of a 542 HP Panamera and then went to sketches of a newer 600 HP model before finalizing their package with a maximum output of a whopping 700 HP! The Porsche Panamera Stingray GTR will be limited to only 25 units, with each tuning upgrade priced at 45,000 euro, or about $63,500 at the current exchange rates. By the way, four of them have already been sold.
The engine boost was provided by the addition of a new sport air filter, intake manifold, motronik, and valved exhaust system that got the Panamera up to the 600 HP mark. With a few more add-ons requested by the customer, TopCar will get that bite up to 700 HP.
The exterior was also worked on to balance out the awesomeness of this package. TopCar modified most of the Panamera’s body, including bumpers, the bonnet, front and rare fender extenders, front and rear doors, and side skirts. The tuner then went on to add extended wings, advanced air vents, sharp outlines for the blade front bumper and bonnet, strongly-marked rear diffuser, and a spoiler on the boot lid. Each interior for the 25 units produced will be treated as an individual design project and will be modified according to the customer’s preferences.
TopCar has proven that some things just get better with age. Hey, maybe if we wait a little bit longer they’ll come out with an 800 HP version of the Porsche Panamera Stingray GTR!
It’s always interesting when one tuning firm completes a project and that same project gets another once-over from a different company. We’ve just seen this scenario with the Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG Hamann Typhoon and Specialty Car Craft’s own interpretation of the vehicle, and now Platinum Motorsport is doing the same thing with a Porsche Panamera tuned by Mansory.
The Panamera started its day with the Mansory kit which includes a new front skirt with adapted LED daytime running lights, a striking bonnet made of carbon fiber, an enormous carbon diffuser, centrally located double end pipes, and 21-inch rims on Michelin Pilot Sport tires. The 4.8L engine was already pumped up with an ECU upgrade, larger turbo chargers, and a stainless steel sports exhaust system that increased the output from 500 HP to 690 HP. With the new output, the sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in less than 4 seconds, while top speed goes of 204 mph.
Yes, that kit does seem to be complete already, but Platinum Motorsport thought it better to provide the sports sedan with a new set of 22" Agetro M140 painted in black and a sleek black exterior paint job. They say that sometimes by giving a little, you get a lot; we think these minor modifications illustrate that point.
When there’s a car that’s as popular as the Porsche Panamera, it’s not surprising that so many aftermarket companies are determined to put their own stamp on it. Whether its through a new aerodynamic body kit or a performance upgrade, tuning companies love to fawn over these types of vehicles. Such is the life of the Panamera these days.
The latest tuning program for the luxury sports saloon from Porsche comes courtesy of Vorsteiner. The German tuning firm has released their new V-PT body kit for the Panamera, one that includes a plethora of materials made using carbon fiber and finished in multiple layers of UV-inhibiting automotive clear laquer.
Among the items included in the V-PT body kit include a new front bumper cover with a splitter and a removable carbon fiber with an optional carbon fiber duct to go along with it. There are also new side skirts, a new ‘ducktail’ rear spoiler, and a rear bumper. Speaking of the rear bumper, Vorsteiner made one that combines three pretty important components: two vertical ventilation slits that help in extracting heat from behind the Panamera’s wheel arches and exhaust system; a carbon fiber diffuser; and a Vorsteiner-developed sub-panel.
Finally, Vorsteiner also made changes to the Panamera’s exhaust system, taking out the factory-issued part and putting in a V-PT sports exhaust system that can be built with a choice of either stainless steel or titanium, the latter offering 40% of weight savings compared to the stock-issued exhaust system.
The Panamera has been reworked and reprogrammed so many times in its short life span, but for a car that’s as popular as this one, there’s never a case of having one too many.
Porsche is offering up proof that even the most luxurious cars can be fuel efficient with the debut of a V6 diesel engine on the Porsche Panamera.
The new Panamera Diesel is now equipped with a 3.0 liter V6 diesel engine that delivers a total of 250 HP and will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, while top speed is limited to 150 mph. What’s even more impressive is that the sports sedan was tested and received an impressive 745 miles on an 80 liter tank with an average fuel consumption of only 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers, or about 37 mpg.
In Germany, the new Panamera Diesel will be priced at about 80,183 euro, or about $119,500 at the current exchange rates, and will go on sale in August 2011. There hasn’t been any mention as to if the Panamera Diesel will be available on the US market.
UPDATE 08/31/11: We’ve updated our photo gallery of the Porsche Panamera Diesel with more pictures. Check out the gallery to see the new snapshots of the diesel Panamera!
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Porsche Panamera Diesel.
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