It’s been four years since we first saw the Panamera Sport Turismo Concept at the Paris Motor Show. Since then, the next-gen Panamera sedan has made its appearance, and more recently we got to lay eyes on the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. We’ve received a few rounds of spy shots that showed the Panamera Shooting Brake being put through the paces, and just before it’s official debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, Porsche has decided to spill the beans about the newest member of the Panamera Family. Sporting the same front end as its sedan sibling and a whole new design out back that’s similar to that of the Sport Turismo Concept, the Panamera Shooting brake will also be available with the same four engines offered in the sedan, and somehow manages to maintain the same performance figures despite being slightly longer.

It gets an active spoiler out back that helps add downforce to the rear axle at track speeds, and can be had with a 2+2 or a 4+1 seating layout, the latter of which throws a jump seat of sorts between the individual seats in the rear. That makes this shooting brake model the first to offer seating for five when properly equipped. So far, Porsche as released a fair amount of information regarding its newest wagon (am I the only one who’s not sure the standard Panamera is even really a sedan?) and it’s enough to cover most of the juicy bits. We’ll surely learn more at its official debut and later on when it officially launches here in the U.S., but until then, let’s dive on in a take a good look at the new Panamera Shooting Brake… uhem…. Panamera Sport Turismo.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo.

2018 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

With the Panamera Sport Turismo being offered in four different versions at launch, Porsche decided to release just a few images of the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, which practically mirrors its sedan cousin as will the other four models that include the entry-level Sport Turismo, the 4S Sport Turismo, and the Turbo Sport Turismo. Well, that’s to say that it mirrors its sedan brethren up front, but out back, it’s a whole different ball game. In the front, we see the same Porsche headlights, rounded nose, smooth hood with muscular haunches, and a wide-mouth air dam down below. On the 4 E-Hybrid model, the air dam features vertical side walls and is flanked by a pair of vents in each corner. Believe it or not, those vents actually look functional, even with the long trim insert the runs the full width of the fascia before curving downward and doubling back as a pair of fins that line up with the fins of the air dam.

Moving to the sides, the front end remains virtually unchanged. Wheel options include sizes up to 21 inches while the mild body lines of the sedan carry over as well. The same dual-spoke mirrors reside on the front doors as does the weird stationary glass at the front corner of the door. Moving farther back, however, yields an all-new design that includes a larger piece of rear quarter glass. It takes on the same shape but is longer, creating the basis for the rear pillar that makes this car an official shooting brake. The roof on the Sport Turismo isn’t quite as angled as that of the sedan, but that allows for a smooth transition into that active rear spoiler. A charging port for the hybrid system resides on the driver-side rear quarter panel, just above the rear wheel arch.

Around back, that active rear spoiler is finished in a darker color that contrasts the rest of the body and can add as much as 110 pounds of force to the rear axle depending on driving mode, road conditions, and speed. The rear glass is angled steeply as is the lower portion of the rear hatch before it takes a sharp vertical dive to match the contour of the rear fascia. The same taillight units and connecting strip with the Porsche logo carry over from the sedan, however, on the shooting brake, this assembly has been tinted and matches active spoiler up top. Down below, the body cladding extends upward to create a home for the twin, dual exhaust outlets that are round – a fresh change from the rectangular units of the sedan.

For a wagon, one can’t help but notice how attractive the Panamera Sport Turismo really is, and even though they don’t get a lot of play here in the U.S. anymore, the Sport Turismo should be a welcome addition into a very small market of luxury wagons still available.

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (Inches)

116.1

Length (Inches)

198.8

Height (Inches)

56.2

Width (Inches)

76.3


Interior

Like the exterior, most of the interior carries over from the Sedan as well – front the front seats forward, that is. The model you see here is the Hybrid model, so the instrument cluster features an analog tachometer and two seven-inch screens that display information related to the hybrid drive system like the amount of energy being used as well as how much has been recovered by the car’s regeneration systems. The same steering wheel carries over with the two upper spokes getting an array of thumb buttons and the lower spoke being split in the middle. Unfortunately, it’s not a flat-bottom unit, but you can’t always have your cake and eat it too, right? Moving over to the center stack, there’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen display that makes quite the center piece and also features special software on hybrid models. One such feature of the hybrid includes a boost assistant that shows the energy available for boosting, among other things.

The center console sits high inside the vehicle and is a split unit that offers up cup holders integrated into the rear armrest, while the front portion houses the shifter and various touch buttons for control different features of the car. The glossy black color of the trim surrounding the shifter matches that of the trim in the instrument cluster and on each side of the infotainment display. Finally, there’s a nice carbon fiber insert on the passenger side of the Dash that matches the on each side of the instrument cluster and the inserts on the upper door panels. An analog clock resides atop the otherwise uneventful dash, and the seats carry over with the same stitching pattern.

One of the big things about the Panamera is that Porsche wanted to provide the same comfort and support for rear passengers that those up front get to experience. As such, you’ll find a decent pair of rear seats that are sporty, offer plenty of comfort, and are even embroidered with the Porsche logo up top. However, while the sedan is limited to seating just four passengers, the Sport Turismo gets a center jump seat of sorts that actually allows a fifth person to sit in the second row without compromising the comfort or support of the rear passengers. The Sport Turismo can be optioned in this 4+1 layout or can take on the standard 2+2 seating arrangement of the coupe. Like the sedan, the center console traverses into the rear to provide a console for rear passengers. It’s safe to assume that Sport Turismo models equipped with a 2+2 layout will get the same center console with a display screen and other features. Those with the 4+1 layout will get a different unit that includes HVAC vents, and a small storage cubby, but it isn’t nearly as functional as that of the center console in the 2+2 unit. It should also be noted that 2+2 models get electrically adjustable seats in the rear.

Further back the Sport Turismo really gets interesting thanks to its shooting brake nature. The rear hatch has a loading height of just 24.7 inches. Oddly, it only offers 0.7 cubic-feet more cargo room than the sedan at 18.4 cubic feet in most models or 15 cubic-feet on the E-Hybrid model. The rear seats fold downward either individually or together with a 40:20:40 split and can be unlocked electrically from the rear cargo area. When in the full down position, the loading floor is nearly level and cargo room increases to 49 cubic-feet or 45.7 cubic-feet on hybrid models. An optional luggage compartment management system is also available that adds in two integrated cargo rails to the loading floor to go along with four tie-down points, and a fancy little net.

Drivetrain

When the Panamera Sport Turismo hits the U.S. Market, it will be offered in four different forms with four different engines. Starting out the lineup is the standard Sport Turismo with a 3.0-liter V-6 that delivers 330 horsepower. With this engine, the Sport Turismo can hit 60 mph in 5.0-seconds flat. Next up is the 4S Sport Turismo and its 2.9-liter that delivers 440 horsepower and 405 pound-feet. Then you’ve got the 4 E-Hybrid that comes with the same 2.9-liter but also gets an extra 136 ponies from its electric motor, allowing it to hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Finally, the range-topping, Turbo Sport Turismo rocks out that 4.0-liter V-8 with 550 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque on tap. With launch control, that model can hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. According to Porsche, the Sport Turismo is able to offer the same performance times as the sedan, however, based on most recent information, it seems as if the Turbo is actually a little bit faster, as the Panamera Turbo Sedan hits 60 mph in 3.8 seconds or 3.6 with the Sport Chrono package. Either way, the range-topping model should top out around 190 mph, while the lesser models will see a small decrease in top speed as you work down the line. Shifting duties for all engines should be handled by Porsche’s new eight-speed PDK automatic that makes use of a ”sports ratio” for the first six gears while the final two gears are longer and aimed at fuel efficiency and higher top speed.

Drivetrain Specifications

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo 4

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo 4S

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo

Engine

3.6-liter V-6

2.9-liter V-6

4.8-liter V-8

Horsepower

330 HP @ 5,400-6,400 RPM

440 HP @ 5,650-6,600 RPM

550 HP @ 5,750-6,000 RPM

Torque

405 LB-FT

567 LB-FT

0 to 60 mph

5.0 seconds

4.0 seconds

3.4 seconds

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo 4 E-Hybrid

Combustion Engine

2.9-liter V-6

Output

330 HP

Electric output

136 HP @ 6,000 RPM

Combined output

462 HP

0 to 60 mph

4.4 seconds


Pricing

The Panamera Sport Turismo will hit the U.S. Market as a 2018 model toward the end of the fourth quarter of 2017. The entry-level model starts out at $96,200, while the E-Hybrid Sport Turismo commands $104,000. The 4S commands $109,200, while the range-topping Turbo Sport Turismo commands a staggering $154,000. These prices should remain the same through the first couple years on the market – right up until the Sport Turismo goes through its first facelift.

Porsche Panamera 4 Sport Turismo

$96,200

Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

$104,000

Porsche Panamera 4S Sport Turismo

$109,200

Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo

$154,000


Competition

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

The CLS Shooting Brake made its debut in 2012, just a couple years after the second-gen coupe hit the streets. Unfortunately, it has yet to make it to U.S. soil, but our European and Asian counterparts are lucky enough to have it available to them. For the 2015 model year, the CLS Shooting Brake received a mid-cycle update that should keep it fresh for a few more years. In current form, it is offered with several engines, including a pair of 2.1-liter turbodiesels, a 3.0-liter V-6 diesel, a 3.0-liter V-6, and a 4.6-liter V-8. Output ranges from 167 horsepower and 295 pound-feet from the 2.1-liter turbodiesel, up to 402 horsepower and 442 pound-feet from the 4.6-liter V-8. At the time of this writing, the CLS Shooting Brake starts out at £49,485 for the base model with a diesel powertrain and climbs all the way up to £89,175 for the range-topping Mercedes-AMG CLS63 S. As of September 2017, these figures compute to a range of $66,500 up to $119,850.

Read our full review of the Mercedes-Benz CLS.

BMW 5 Series Touring

The BMW 5 Series has been around since 1972. Over the years, it has seen a total of six generational changes, with the most recent coming in 2017. Based on the latest 5 Series sedan, the newest Touring benefits form BMW's most recent design language. Styling is fresh and sporty, with highlights including angular headlamps linked directly to the larger kidney grille and a revamped rear end with LED taillights. But unlike the Panamera Sports Touring and the CLS Shooting Brake, the 5 Series Touring is more of a conventional wagon with a boxier rear end and subsequently a roomier trunk section. Still, it's sporty from every angle and not a bad choice if you want a bit more space in the trunk. Naturally, motivation comes from about the same engines as the sedan, starting with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel rated at 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet in the base model. The larger 3.0-liter diesel delivers 265 horses and 457 pound-feet, while the 2.0-liter gasoline mill generates 252 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. Finally, the range-topping 540i model uses a 3.0-liter gasoline powerplant that's good for 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of twist. Pricing for the 5 Series Touring ranges from £38,075 for the base 520i SE to £53,570 for the 540i xDrive M Sport. That's around $51,120 to $71,950 as of September 2017.

Rear our full review of the BMW 5 Series Touring.

Conclusion

In all honesty, I wasn’t a big fan of the way the Panamera sedan actually looked. To me, it looked like someone crammed to 911s together and made some funky love child. But, looking at this Sport Turismo, I don’t get that type of feeling at all. The car is sporty, attractive, and I love the fact that you can opt for a 2+2 or 4+1 layout. Of course, the 2+2 layout will ultimately be better all of the way around, but for those with a few little ones, it’s perfect, really – assuming you’re willing to stash your kids in a $110,000 car that is. The performance figures are impressive, and Porsche is actually doing it right by offering the same lineup for the shooting brake that it does the sedan. Whether or not the model will be met with wide success remains to be seen, but something tells me it’s a model worth of your consideration.

Rendering