Porsche Test Drives the Panamera in South Africa

South Africa is known for its dry, rugged terrain, and for that reason, the testing team at Porsche chose this locale to perfect the Panamera. A group took several new Panameras (to be launched later this year in select United States markets) to Cape Town to test out the car’s capabilities. While there, the team kept a diary to share with Porsche lovers around the world. Get a sneak peek into their South African test-driving day courtesy of the Porsche experts as they left Cape Town and traveled into the wild countryside.

7:04am:
Early March. Cape Town. The tactile qualities of the push button on the center console don’t seem quite right. And the transition between second and third gear is clearly still too stiff. The Porsche engineers are in the midst of a series of test-drives for the Panamera. They’ve completed all of the preparations for today’s trials. The last briefing before the engines start up is like the calm before a storm. Another moment of focus, a narrowing of attention—all in the search of subtle adjustments to give the sports sedan that final touch of perfection.

9:53am:
Franschhoek. A delightful wine-producing region not far from Cape Town, at the foot of the Drakenstein Mountains. Driving up the winding road to the pass, the Panamera accelerates out of a curve to the orchestral acoustics of its new V8 bi-turbo engine. Four thousand cc of displacement generate not only a sound befitting its commanding presence, but also a boundless desire to perform. The lightly camouflaged black car maneuvers effortlessly through the slalom of curves toward the peak, powering at more than 4,000 rpm without a pause for breath. Then the driver pulls a fast one; to be precise, he slams on the ultramodern ceramic brakes. Just seconds later, we hear the relaxed bass tones of the eight-cylinder engine in repose – the very picture of calm. Test passed.

Dr. Gernot Döllner, the director of the Panamera model line, steps on the gas and drives the big Porsche up through the ascending course of curves. The display on the dashboard shows the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system in Sport mode. Every turn of the wheel is a breathtaking experience. “In principle, the new Panamera weighs about 176 pounds less than its predecessor,” he notes. But numerous additional features bring the total weight back up to the previous amount. In other words, the car offers more comfort, sportiness, and safety at no additional weight. The fact that the newcomer will be more dynamic than its predecessor in all respects is due largely to some fine adjustments as well as to a substantial boost in output. “We get a little better every day,” says Döllner. As an engineer, that is his job. Together with the Simultaneous Engineering team, he is responsible for the entire Panamera line. And when these trials are over, the new Panamera will head for the showrooms.

But at the moment, the convoy of black cars is awaiting the next stage of its series of arduous tasks. Covered in dust, in addition to the foil that serves as a partial disguise, the Porsche sedans exude an impressive air of assurance. Not long after a tough stint of trials in the icy cold of the polar winter, they now have the sun beating down on them from a shimmering blue sky. The test crew is ready for everything, from bone-chilling cold to blood-boiling heat. The pros are well aware that nature runs the gamut. They also know that the days of tests are often followed by nights of problem-solving. It continues until hundreds of thousands of test miles have been clocked – until every load alteration is a joy, and every switch functions precisely. The desire to dot the last “i” on the sportiest sedan in the luxury segment demands everything – and is its own motivation.

10:47am
Hermanus. This coastal town in the province of Western Cape is one of the best places in South Africa for winter whale-watching. While the first vacationers head out for a cliff walk, the Porsche team breakfasts on muesli and fried eggs.
At the stop in Hermanus, the cars are fueled and the next part of the route is discussed in painstaking detail. Test director Christian Kunkel ensures that the radio system is in flawless order and that the measuring gauges and data logs in the trunks are all ready for action. Then the engines start up again. For the past two weeks, every day has followed the same routine. Today’s agenda calls for 375 miles on country roads. South African roads can have extremely different conditions in quick succession. Rough asphalt with frequent, sudden drops due to washouts. Curves with tight radiuses. Climatic conditions spanning the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Mountain passes at altitudes of nearly two miles, rock-hard gravel roads through blazing stretches of desert – all with the ever-present hazard of roaming animals. For the engineers, South Africa poses challenges that can be simulated on test benches in Weissach but ultimately only mastered with complete certainty in practice. “Driving is the only way to determine that all of the components work together perfectly,” says Dr. Oliver Seifert, distilling the comprehensive task of the South African crew into a single sentence. Seifert is responsible for the complex development field of electrical and electronic engineering.

This area is subject to ever-shorter development cycles – and a rapidly expanding range of applications. The new adaptive cruise control (ACC) system alone communicates with thirteen control units. In terms of materials, the Panamera’s share of aluminum components also reflects the premium placed on future viability. The key concept here is lightweight construction. The car’s floor structure and transmission tunnel are made entirely of aluminum, as is the body itself. High-strength steel alloys in the A and B pillars ensure torsional stability and protect the driver and passengers.

The exterior dimensions of the sports sedan have hardly changed from those of its predecessor, but the new car body seems lower, thanks to artful work by the design department. The upper edge of the windshield takes about 0.39 inches off the top, whereas the flyline extends more than 0.79 inches deeper at the rear. The C pillars also extend farther toward the back. This coupe-like impression gives the new Panamera a sportier appearance. The outside has the same dimensions, but the inside has more room—another advantage of the additional 1.18 inches in the wheelbase. The result: even more knee room as well as greater volume in the trunk—now at 18 cubic feet. “Which means more space for all of our test equipment,” one of the drivers notes drily.

To learn the details of the team’s afternoon, click here.

Porsche has long since been a beloved brand, due in part to these adventurous test drives intended to perfect the model for full performance in any given situation. Baker Motor Company is proud to partner with Porsche, and we invite you to test drive a new model at our dealership in West Ashley.