Porsche ups Panamera diesel power

Porsche has revealed a more powerful Panamera Diesel, little more than a month after sales of the facelifted limousine line-up commenced in Australia on July 27.

While pricing remained unchanged for the Panamera’s midlife makeover, Porsche Cars Australia has now revealed a price of $204,600 (plus on-road costs) for the upgraded diesel model – making it $7900 more expensive than the facelifted model just released ($196,700).

In the absence of a sub-$200,000 variant, the cheapest model in the Panamera range is now the petrol V6 ($201, 400), which is now available alongside the facelifted Panamera Turbo range-topper ($382,400), the Panamera S ($287,100) and all-wheel drive Panamera 4S ($299,300) models.

Both S models switch from a 4.8-litre V8 to a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 that delivers more performance and efficiency and will also power Porsche’s upgraded Cayenne and Macan Turbo, both of which are due on sale here by mid-2014.

The new-look Panamera 4 ($213,500), new Panamera S E-Hybrid plug-in ($296,900) and the sole remaining naturally aspirated Panamera, the  GTS ($318,300), all arrive here in November, with the top-shelf Panamera Turbo S to top the range next year. However, Australia won’t see the long-wheelbase Panamera until the next generation due by 2016.

But the big news here is the upgraded Panamera Diesel, which will make its world debut at the Frankfurt motor show next week before arriving in local showrooms in March with more performance and lower fuel consumption to go with its higher pricetag.

Sourced from Audi and expected to also power the upgraded Cayenne, the new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel features a water-cooled turbocharger and boost pressure of 3.0 bar (formerly 2.5 bar) to develop no less than 221kW (300hp) at 4000rpm and 650Nm of torque between a relatively narrow 1750-2500rpm.

While that’s up 37kW (20 per cent) and 100Nm on the 184kW/550Nm engine it replaces, it doesn’t quite match the 230kW output achieved by the twin-turbo 3.0-litre diesel in Audi’s SQ5.

Nevertheless, fuel consumption is reduced by 0.1L/100km to 6.4L/100km on the European combined cycle, which is outstanding for a 1900kg vehicle – and one that sprints to 100km/h in a claimed six second flat (eight-tenths sooner than before). Porsche says top speed is also up, by 15km/h to 259km/h, while towing capacity increases by 100kg to 2600kg.

Part of the improved acceleration comes from shorter first, second, third and fourth gear ratios in the recalibrated eight-speed auto, while a rear-axle differential lock with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) is now fitted as standard for the first time in the diesel.

Of course, the 2014 Panamera Diesel continues to offer all of the cosmetic and equipment upgrades seen in the facelifted 2013 model, including new bumpers, new headlights (with standard bi-xenon beams and the option of full-LED), new side sills, a wider rear windscreen, new tail-light graphics, a new multifunction steering wheel and powered tailgate.

With about 8500 global sales since 2009, Porsche says the Diesel accounts for about 15 per cent of all Panamera sales.

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