Car-of The Month-Porsche Panamera

It’s finally here

and the big question is this:

Is it a sports car or a fancy four-door?

The first four-door in the company’s 61-year history

Slipping into a Panamera is more like entering a 911 than a luxury sedan. The front seats are just 1.2 inches higher than in the 911 but lower than those of its competitors ( BMW 7-series, Lexus LS460, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes S-class). The 911 look is clearly carried over in the instrument panel, with its array of five round dials; the center stack is also recognizable. The transmission tunnel, however, has a battery of switches and buttons that are more logical and less gimmicky than the rotary dials found in the BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-class.

A shock is the roominess of the back-seat area. Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking, a tall and substantial man, had barked about cramped headroom.

Fast as it is, the Panamera is almost hushed as it goes about its business. But never fear: For customers who like thrilling sound effects to go with straight-line fury, Porsche has a way. There’s an exhaust button in the center console that activates a valve on each muffler, opening a bypass that produces a much more Porsche-like roar.

Just like serious sports cars, the Panamera is equipped with a launch-control system. All models also offer a Start/Stop system, which uses a conventional but higher-capacity starter motor. As soon as the Panamera comes to a stop, the system shuts off the engine, then restarts very softly when the driver lifts his foot off the brake.