Porsche Panamera Overview 2012

Porsche purists were thrown into disarray when the Porsche Panamera made its debut at the 2009 Shanghai auto show. Fans, already reeling from the (highly successfully) Porsche Cayenne SUV, could not believe their favorite sports car company was building a sedan. The continued success of the Porsche Panamera among critics and the public illustrates a Porsche is a Porsche regardless of the number of doors on the vehicle.

The 2012 Porsche Panamera is actually a hatchback that can seat a driver and up to three passengers. Originally offered in Porsche Panamera S, Panamera 4S, and Panamera Turbo, the lineup has expanded to include the Porsche Panamera and Panamera 4 in 2010.
Unlike its 911, Boxster, and -- especially -- Cayman offerings, Porsche designed the spacious Panamera as a luxury cruiser as well as a sports car, albeit with four doors and a usable rear seat. A standard equipped Porsche Panamera is luxuriously equipped with an interior design, materials, and styling borrowed from the Cayenne SUV. Options are numerous and include full leather interior, air suspension system, and two premium music systems to choose from. The four engine options offered all move the two-ton Porsche Panamera fast.
What's New

There are two changes to the Porsche Panamera for 2012 and they are big ones. The first is the addition of the 2012 Porsche Panamera Hybrid. Equipped with supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 and electric motor drivetrain, the Panamera Hybrid generates roughly the same amount of power as the Panamera S (375 horsepower). The hybrid's fuel economy is considerably better at 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. (The Porsche Panamera S gets 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway).
The second change is the addition of the more powerful 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S. While fuel economy is the same between both turbo models (15 mpg city and 23 mpg highway), the Porsche Panamera Turbo S' turbocharged 4.8-liter V-8 rates 50 horsepower more than the Turbo's 500 horsepower for breathtaking acceleration.
Performance & Handling

Porsche silenced critics of the Panamera who quickly discovered the sedan is nearly as quick and nimble as it 911 siblings on the track, yet still manages to be a comfortable luxury cruiser on America's long roads and freeways. Steering is responsive and the suspension makes the Porsche Panamera feel smaller than its size. The Porsche Panamera's acceleration in the Turbo, Turbo S, and even the hybrid are near mindboggling.
EPA Fuel Economy

Porsche Panamera with 3.6-liter V-6 engine: 18 mpg city / 26-27 mpg highway
Porsche Panamera 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 + electric motor engine: 22 mpg city / 30 mpg highway
Porsche Panamera 4.8-liter V-8 engine: 16 mpg city / 24 mpg highway
Porsche Panamera 4.8-liter twin turbo V-8 engine: 15 mpg city / 23 mpg highway

Jaguar’s new Porsche 911 rival unveiled

Next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show will see Jaguar take the wraps of a new two-seater hybrid sports car concept, the C-X16.

Is this, the new Jaguar C-X16 concept, going to be the star car of next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show? And perhaps more importantly, will it go into production?
At a first glance the answer to both of those questions is almost certainly “yes”. This is a two-seater sports car that evokes the spirit of the famous E-type and would cost in the region of £50,000: not a replacement for the XK then, but an all-new model to sit underneath it.
Power for the concept comes from a new petrol V6 which, thanks to a supercharger, generates 375bhp and 332lb ft of torque. It is joined by a 95bhp electric motor to form a hybrid sports car that can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds yet returns 165g/km of CO2 in EU tests.

Power is delivered through the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox in what Jaguar boasts is its smallest car since the 1954 XK120. At 4,445mm in length, 2,048mm in width and 1,297mm in height, and with just those two seats it is close to a Porsche Cayman in terms of size and concept, although many will see it as a more natural rival for the 911.
The job of the car’s electric motor is two-fold: it enables electric only running up to speeds of 50mph, and also provides an additional slug of acceleration when the driver presses a steering wheel-mounted “push-to-pass” type button. The 1.6kWh battery is charged through a brake energy regeneration system and mounted behind the front seats to ensure the C-X16 has 50:50 weight distribution.

2011 Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC vs. 2011 Volkswagen CC

Another segment in our “Luxury without the price tag” series – 2011 Volkswagen CC vs. 2011 Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC.

With new cars, you get what you pay for right? Well – kind of. Sometimes you get more than you pay for…or even bargained for. Volkswagen is one of those manufacturers that consistently provides more bang for the proverbial buck. The VW CC is a shining example of that value standard in providing best-in class features at a “how’d they do that?” price point.
The new 2011 Volkswagen CC is a luxury performance European sedan. The 2011 VW CC is an incredible bargain considering value, and an even greater value when considering its rivals. This time we’ll compare and contrast the 2011 Mercedes E350.
The two models we’ll be pitting against each other for this comparison will be the 2011 Volkswagen CC VR6 4MOTION vs. 2011 Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC. While the spec sheets look similar, and they’re definitely in the same class…only one shines clearly above the other when you consider what you get for the dollars that you spend.
The technical data:

	Volkswagen CC VR6 4MOTION	Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC
Engine	3.6L DOHC V6	3.5L DOHC V6
Horsepower	280 HP	268 HP
Torque	265 lb/ft	258 lb/ft
Valves	4 per cylinder	4 per cylinder
Displacement	3599 CC	3498 CC
Compression Ratio	12.0:1	10.7:1
Transmission	6 speed TipTronic	7 speed Automatic
Fuel Economy	17 city – 25 hwy	16 city – 24 hwy
0-60 Times	6.2 seconds (Est.)	6.5 seconds (Est.)
MSRP	$40,390	$51,900

The 2011 Volkswagen CC bests the Mercedes Benz in just about every category…well – besides price. A full $11,500 less expensive than the Mercedes, the Volkswagen CC certainly doesn’t compromise in any category. It’s more powerful, quicker to 60 MPH, and better with fuel economy. All the while saving you enough money to take give the whole family iPads – on a beach in Hawaii – while your new LED Flatscreen is being installed at home.
Come drive and compare the 2011 VW CC at Rusty Wallis Volkswagen. We even have some 2012 VW CCs in stock. What model(s) should we compare next? Comment and give us your suggestions.