The legendary German automaker Porsche is known for producing high-end luxury sports cars. For decades Porsche sports cars have stood for speed and prestige. It’s been their claim to fame, but is there any such thing as a Porsche station wagon? The very notion is enough to bring a smile to the face of some, but the answer to the question is a definite yes. The Porsche station wagon does in fact exist, but it’s not your typical family cruiser.
The Porsche Panamera
Cars Guide introduces us to the Porsche Panamera. This is the natural progression that the automaker followed when keeping up with the demand of consumers in the current luxury auto market. As Sports car fans get older and start having families, their transportation needs also change and evolve. Dyed in the wool Porsche lovers are happy to have the option of expanding their passion to a vehicle that still provides insane performance and luxury with room for new members of the family.
What is the Panamera?
The Panamera is Porsche’s large-sized luxury sedan in a station wagon platform. For family convenience, it sports a liftback feature for easy access to the cargo area. This is a four-seat full-size and full luxury car that bridges the gap between sedan and wagon because it is designed with a sleeker exterior appearance that avoids the stodgy and boxy look of a wagon, but the interior is laid out with full station wagon functionality. They’ve pulled off a small miracle of sorts with the Panamera. This model is the more modern second-generation version of the five-seat Sport Turismo wagon. Porsche has been in the business of manufacturing wagons for a few years now. The first generation of the Panamera was released in 2010. A variant called the Sport Turismo was released as a concept in 2012 with a consistent evolution since its inception.
The merits of the Panamera
Men’s Journal describes the most attractive elements of Porsche’s station wagon. Imagine a stylish and luxurious Porsche with room to seat four adults and their luggage for a road trip. Although the first generation had a large and somewhat bulbous rear section, it’s gotten a lot better. When you got behind the wheel the rear end didn’t matter so much. In the last decade, Porsche has lower the latest generation with a wider aesthetic and a resculpted rear end that seems to have benefited from cosmetic surgery. The sleek appearance gets a thumbs up.
The PanameraTurbo Sport Turismo
A variant of the Panamera is the Sport Turismo, also a Porsche station wagon. Families benefit from almost 50 cubic feet of cargo space and a back hatch for easy access. There’s more headroom thanks to the raised roofline. The handling is rated as impeccable and the performance sublime. It’s powered with a 330 horsepower V6 engine with the choice of a version equipped with a V8 that cranks 550 horsepower if you have a greater need for speed and fast acceleration. Porsche has taken honey of a sports car and morphed it into a roomier luxury wagon. They’ve outfitted it with an active spoiler for enhancing downforce for tearing up the road along with options for improving fuel economy when you’re feeling more sedate. We would be remiss in forgetting to mention that it’s loud and fast. The Sport Turismo has an acceleration rate in the V6 model that takes you from a standstill to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds with 330 horsepower. The starting price is $96,000 for the most basic model and it goes up from there.
The 2021 Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo
Porsche’s Panamera Sport Turismo is such a popular model that they’re bringing it back for 2021. What are we going to see? It’s essentially a Porsche 911 in a station wagon platform, or similarly a Porsche Panamera sedan with a long roof. It’s coming out in a four-door hatchback with a plug-in hybrid variant or two. The E-Hybrid will value performance over fuel efficiency. The Turbo SE Hybrid will come out equipped with an engine system that delivers a total of 689 horsepower with a top speed of 196 mph.
What makes the Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo so special?
Porsche has designed a highly functional version of its 911 in the Panamera line and its variants. This should satisfy at least some of the desire to find yourself behind the wheel of a 911 in some form. The precision handling, luxury interior, and sleek aesthetics of the exterior serve as an elegant solution for families with the need for more space. There is plenty of room for a family of four with cargo room for hobby and sports gear or for making a run to the grocery store. The cabin is luxurious and comfortable. You’ll find all of the creature comforts that one would expect from Porsche. The Panamera is not your typical family wagon. It doesn’t look like one and it doesn’t behave like one. It’s a sports car that is made to accommodate a family, but this doesn’t interfere with its performance. It’s designed to be fuel-efficient when necessary, but it can also tear down the road with impressive speed. It gives you plenty of options.
Final thoughts
Porsche definitely does make a station wagon. It’s one of the most impressive vehicles in its class. They’re holding their own in this niche market, but they’ve accomplished their necessary business goals in Porsche style. Porsche has achieved the perfect balance between practicality and gratification. It exists in the Panamera. This model has been around for a decade and it’s now in its second-generation. Porsche has continued to make improvements with each new model year. It just keeps getting better. If you’re a Porsche fan with a family, you might want to consider this as an option.
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