Updated interior: saying goodbye to physical buttons
The updated Porsche Panamera has been spotted again at the Nürburgring, and while the exterior doesn’t reveal many new secrets, the interior could be a real surprise. When we last saw the updated Panamera testing in snowy Scandinavia in January, the focus was on exterior changes. The camouflage hinted at updates to the headlights, bumpers, and driver assistance equipment, but the interior remained hidden. This time it’s different.
The latest prototype appears to have a redesigned center console, and these changes could mean the end of one of the Panamera’s traditional features. The current model uses a row of physical switches for climate control, distinguishing it from competitors that have moved almost all controls to a touchscreen. Now, it seems Porsche may be going down the same path.
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Although the camouflage makes it difficult to determine exactly what is happening under the cover, the shape of the hidden area suggests that the automaker may be replacing those switches with another display. If so, the number of screens in the Panamera would increase to four, if the car is equipped with an optional passenger display above the glovebox.
Comparison with the Cayenne Electric and new assumptions
At first glance, it seemed Porsche might borrow the layout from the new Cayenne Electric. That SUV features a central infotainment screen paired with a lower touchscreen for climate control and vehicle functions. But there is a problem with this theory.
Unlike the Cayenne Electric prototypes we have seen, this Panamera does not appear to have ventilation vents located above the central display. This strongly suggests that the vents remain below the infotainment screen, as in the current model, meaning Porsche may have developed a completely different solution.
Panamera 4S E-Hybrid
Exterior changes and hybrid hints
Externally, the camouflage looks almost unchanged compared to the prototype we saw earlier this year. Updated headlights, modified bumpers, and new radar equipment seem to have carried over from previous test cars. But this time, our photo team spotted two different Panameras, both with a charging port on the left side, indicating they are plug-in hybrids.
Will the GTS become a hybrid?
One of the cars has square exhaust tips, hinting that it is a Turbo E-Hybrid or Turbo S E-Hybrid, while the other has four round exhaust tips. The only current Panamera hybrid with four round exhaust tips is the 4S E-Hybrid. But the front bumper of this prototype, the placement of the daytime running lights, and the fact that the lower part of the rear bumper, where a diffuser might be, is covered, make us wonder if this is actually a GTS. The current GTS has a V8 without hybrid assistance, but will that change?
Powertrains and prices
Porsche has not given any hints about powertrain changes for the update, so for now these are only our assumptions. The current lineup starts with a turbocharged V6 producing 348 hp (353 hp) in the base model, moves to a V8 producing 493 hp (500 hp) in the GTS, and relies on plug-in hybrid technology for most of its performance and sales.
These electrified models range from the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid with 463 hp (468 hp) to the flagship Turbo S E-Hybrid, which boasts a staggering 771 hp (782 hp). Prices currently start at around $113,000 and go up to over $240,000 for the most powerful versions, although when the updated cars are unveiled, the base price will likely approach $120,000.
Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Baldauf
Interestingly, the appearance of two different hybrid prototypes on the track may indicate a more aggressive electrification of the Panamera lineup than expected. If the GTS does indeed get a hybrid powertrain, it would be a logical step for Porsche, given stricter environmental regulations and growing demand for more efficient, yet powerful cars. At the same time, keeping the traditional vents below the screen suggests that the engineers are not in a hurry to completely copy solutions from other models, trying to find their own balance between innovation and familiar comfort.