2010 Porsche Panamera S

Many years ago, a novelty was hidden in the bowels of the original McCormick Place for Chicago Auto Show visitors to find: a weird-looking four-door Chevrolet Corvette. Even weirder is why anyone would do such a thing.

Still, someone cut the fiberglass body in half, stretched it and add two doors. The problem, like Humpty Dumpty found out, was putting it together again. Front and rear ends were not only out of plumb, they also lacked support. Think gelatin.

That car came to mind when a 2010 Porsche Panamera arrived for testing. Panamera is not only the first all-new Porsche in seven years, it's also the first four-door from the sports coupe authority -- ever.

On the plus side, it looks like a Porsche, at least upfront. Yet, word is that many who have encountered the 2010 Panamera have responded uncharacteristically to a Porsche: "Ugh," "Ick" and "OMG," which also deals a blow to the deity.

Maybe not a work of art, especially with those rear door handles, but compared with that four-door Corvette catastrophe, no need to hide it in the basement. It's solid; no glue required.

Panamera is offered in rear-wheel drive S and AWD S and turbo versions. All are powered by a 4.8-liter, 400-horsepower V-8 with a 7-speed automatic. Twin turbos boost the horses to 500.

Porsche provided a RWD S with summer tires for optimum high-speed handling that would have been adequate at the equator, but a little less than ideal in the Snow Belt. A rule of thumb, however, is that unless at either pole, never turn down a Porsche.

The RWD and AWD S are rated at 16 mpg city / 24 highway, the turbo at 15/23, so no gas-guzzler tax. Hardly poster children for conservation, but considering the 400 to 500 hp kick, it could have been worse.

The 400 hp RWD S has ample pop. No shame doing zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds with a 175 mph top speed. But though those with finely honed motoring skills -- and equally honed portfolios -- would prefer the twin turbo that claims zero to 60 in 4 seconds, zero to 99 in 9 seconds and a top speed of 188 mph.

As you'd suspect of a Porsche, ride ranges from silky smooth to sporty stiff depending on whether you're cruising the interstate or at the track, the latter the reason for the time clock in the dash. Handling is pinpoint precise. A variety of suspension settings are available via controls in the instrument stack above the center console.

You also can press a button to raise the nose to keep from scraping a steep driveway, another to raise the spoiler to various heights to keep the rear end planted at differing speeds and another to shut off the engine at a stoplight and restart again when you lift foot off the brake to conserve fuel.

There are more buttons (30) in the instrument stack, dash and doors than in an airline cockpit: most, however, control climate and seats. Porsche says all buttons are within easy reach to minimize time eyes are off the road.

There's also a large navi screen in the center of the dash and a smaller one in the instrument panel so the driver has the info in sight when the navi screen is otherwise occupied.

Good room and supportive seats upfront though the bulging armrests on the doors rob thigh room. Back seat has decent, though not lavish, room, even for melons. But the door openings are narrow, making entry/exit an agility test.

Cargo hold has good room for gear or luggage, and rear seat backs fold flat if more is needed. The rear hatch opens high and wide for easy access. The sloping coupe roof style, of course, comes at the expense of visibility out the rear window.

Nice touches include heated and ventilated seats and headlamps that move in direction of any turn, even if you turn the wheel when parked to see what's on either side before exiting.

But why small sideview mirrors for a car that will be driven at speed and needs optimum visibility? And why an ashtray front and rear? When would anyone going 175 mph have time to use one?

The RWD S tested starts at $89,800, the 4WD S at $93,800, the turbo at $132,600. Add $975 freight.

Porsche hopes those who own a 911 coupe for weekend fun will add a Panamera as an everyday driver -- ditto for those who own a BMW 7-Series or Audi A8.

 

2010 PORSCHE PANAMERA S

Wheelbase: 114.9 inches

Length: 195.6 inches

Engine: 4.8-liter, 400-hp V-8

Transmission: 7-speed automatic

MPG: 16 city/24 highway

Price as tested: $106,165

Add $975 for freight.

The sticker:

$89,800 Base

$3,665 Full leather interior

$2,950 Sports exhaust system

$1,990 Adaptive air suspension

$1,950 Panamera wheels

$1,440 Bose sound system

$800 Ventilated front seats

$760 Blue metallic paint

$750 XM radio

$695 Bluetooth phone connectivity

$600 Front and rear park assist

$405 Ski bag

$210 Heated steering wheel

$150 Floor mats

PLUSES:

First Porsche four-door

Ride, handling and performance all Porsche

Room for gear or luggage in cargo hold

Room for adults in back seat, once they get there

MINUSES:

More control buttons than a jet liner

Narrow passage to/from the back seat

Recent Auto Reviews

 

Future of KIA Sorento Bigger and Better
Jim Mateja

Sorento not only has been redesigned, it also has grown, with length expanding 3.2 inches. So Sorento, for the first time, sports a third-row seat to handle a couple munchkins. It's also 1 inch wider, perhaps necessitated by Mom, Dad and the kids munching a bit more than usual.

2010 GMC TERRAIN

GMC Terrain Is Mostly a Smooth Ride
Jim Mateja

GMC Terrain is designed to attract consumers moving out of gas-thirsty mid- and full-size SUVs, as well as minivans. Good plan, considering GMC has dropped its midsize Envoy and Chevy its midsize TrailBlazer, and GM and Ford have dropped minivans. Foreign competition includes the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

 

2010 LINCOLN MKT

Lincoln MKT Unparalleled in Parking Ease
Jim Mateja

When the 2010 Lincoln MKT arrived for testing, we spent the day cruising the neighborhood for one simple reason: to find cars parked on the street so we could experience how MKT parallel parks itself. The game ended when the fuel supply did.

 

New E Coupe a Near Coup for Mercedes
Jim Mateja

Mercedes-Benz has redone its popular E-Class midsize sedan and brought back a coupe companion, absent since 1995 when the E320 faded. The new E coupe takes the place of the CLK, though a new CLK cabriolet comes out next spring

Auto Review Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic

Compact GLK Delivers in Big Way. The GLK that twists and turns through those narrow European byways in TV ads is a well-appointed piece of fine art with craftsmanship worthy of the Mercedes-Benz name. Each body panel is finely sculpted, making it the hands-down fashion leader in the SUV segment.

Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS Get a Powerful Boost
Jim Mateja

Ford Motor Co., has a solution for those who like the Taurus and Lincoln MKS but would be happier if the sedans could motor from the light at full speed. While bringing those V-6s back for 2010, Ford also adopted an EcoBoost strategy, adding twin turbos to each for V-6 mileage -- 17 city/25 highway -- and V-8 muscle.

Wagon Ho! Cadillac Going Off on New Trail
Jim Mateja

The midsize CTS helped ignite the rebirth of Cadillac, with its dynamic design and good appointments. Now it's time for CTS to capitalize on its popularity a couple of derivatives, a wagon and coupe. First up is the 2010 wagon, called Sport Wagon to keep people from using the word 'station wagon' and all the baggage it carries.

 

For more Automobile Reviews & Car Care Articles, please visit our Auto Section by clicking here

 

(C) 2009 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.