
· 52 ·· 53 ·
Performance | Engines
VarioCam Plus.
VarioCam Plus is a t wo -in - one
engine concept for adjusting the
intake camshaf ts and switching
the lif t of the intake valves.
The system first dif ferentiates
bet ween driver inputs that t ypif y
normal, everyday driving and
those inputs that demand maxi -
mum performance. The electronic
engine management system then
seamlessly adapts valve operation
to the prevailing conditions. This
results in instant acceleration and
extremely smooth running. In the middle and low load ranges,
low valve lifts with advanced
timing reduce fuel consumption
and exhaust emissions and im -
prove smooth running. The i n -
crease in fuel economy is particu -
larly pronounced in the lower
engine speed range. High torque
and maximum output are achieved
through high valve lifts and ad -
vanced timing.
How does this benefit you?
Extraordinary power with
relatively low fuel consumption.
Exhaust turbocharging.
The Panamera Turbo has t wo
turbochargers arranged in parallel.
Intake air is compressed and then
fed to the engine via t wo charge-
air coolers, one for each cylinder
bank. Cooling of the compressed
air has t wo positive outcomes:
high cylinder charge and low com -
ponent temperatures. Under full
load, the boost pressure depends
on the current engine speed and
a maximum pressure of 0.85 bar is
achieved at 2,500 rpm at sea
level.
With the optional Sport Chrono
Package Turbo, the boost pressure
produced at full throt tle in the
2,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm range is
temporarily increased by up to
10 % by the ‘overboost ’ function.
VarioCam Plus
Lightweight exhaust system.
The exhaust system is made from
selected longlife stainless steel.
The powerful primary and main
cataly tic converters heat up
rapidly for ef fective emissions
control. As a result, all Panamera
models are equipped to meet
the Euro 5 emission standard in
Europe.
The exhaust system of the
Panamera Turbo switches bet ween
t wo configurations automatically:
low noise at low engine speeds,
and increased throughput at high
revs under maximum engine load.
Sports exhaust system.
An optional sports exhaust system
is available for the Panamera S
models and Panamera Turbo.
Acti
vated by a separate but ton, it
produces an even more authentic
sportscar sound.
Panamera 4S with sports exhaust system

· 54 ·· 55 ·
Performance | Transmission
You don’t always want to hand over control, sometimes you prefer to get involved.
Transmission.
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK).
The 7-speed PDK – fit ted as
standard in the Panamera 4,
Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo
and available as an option in the
Panamera and Panamera S –
has both a manual gearshif t and
an automatic mode and enables
smooth gear changes with no
interruption in the flow of power.
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
Gear lever
Six-speed manual gearbox.
For precision handling: the 6-speed
manual gearbox fit ted as standard
in the Panamera and Panamera S
is tuned for sport y performance
with optimum connection to
the individual gears and extremely
precise shif t throws. Thanks to the elevated centre
console, the gear lever is within
easy reach – ideal for sport y
shifting. The cable-operated gear
-
shif t unit has a precise feel and
the gear lever is insulated against
vibration. Together with the dual-
mass fly wheel, this minimises
noise and is key to providing a
high level of comfort.
An upshift indicator in the instru -
ment cluster helps to further
improve fuel economy. Porsche
Doppelkupplung (PDK) is available
as an option for both of these
models.
Gears 1 to 6 have a sports ratio
and top speed is reached in 6th
gear. The 7th gear has a long
ratio, which reduces fuel consump-
tion even further and keeps engine
revs comfortably low even at
high road speeds. PDK is essentially t wo gearboxes
in one and thus requires t wo
clutches. This double clutch pro
-
vides an alternating, non-positive
connection bet ween the t wo
half gearboxes and the engine by means of t wo separate input shaf ts
(input shaf t 1 is nested inside
the hollowed - out input shaf t 2).

· 56 ·· 57 ·
Performance | Transmission
Power flow in 1st gear
Power flow in 2nd gear
The flow of power from the
engine is transmit ted through one
half gearbox and one clutch at a
time, while the next gear is pre -
selected in the other half gearbox.
During a gear change, therefore,
a complete shif t no longer takes
place. Instead, one clutch simply
opens and the other closes at the
same time. Gear changes can
therefore take place within a few
hundredths of a second.
Clutch 1 controls the first half
gearbox, which contains the odd
gears (1, 3, 5 and 7). Clutch 2
controls the second, which con -
tains the even gears (2, 4, 6 and
R). The gear which is engaged
is displayed on the instrument
cluster.
PDK has distinct benefits. A high
level of driving comfort and
very rapid gearshifts, with no
interruption in the flow of power,
produces faster acceleration.
Driving feels even sportier and
more dynamic, and agilit y is
increased. Depending on the gear -
shif t programme (SPORT but ton
activated or deactivated), the gear
change is optimised for comfort
or for sport y driving. Its high level
of ef ficiency combined with the
long-ratio 7th gear helps to
achieve reduced fuel consumption
and emission figures even when
compared with a standard manual
gearbox.
In conjunction with either the
optional Sport Chrono Package
Plus (p. 74) for all Panamera
models with a naturally aspirated
engine or the optional Sport
Chrono Package Turbo for the
Panamera Turbo (p. 76), PDK is
enhanced by a Launch Control
function which offers a sportier
acceleration and gearshift
strategy in automatic mode and
extremely smooth gear changes
in manual mode.
PDK offers sportiness with
efficiency and comfort. A new
definition of driving in the
pre
mium class from Porsche.

· 62 ·· 63 ·
4
7
9
4
6
10
1
23
5
8
11
2
3
12
Through the purposeful use of
light weight technologies, we have
managed to save weight in the
chassis and increase ef ficiency.
The next challenge was the
question of how to reconcile the
characteristics of a sportscar
with the requirements for comfort
demanded of a saloon. The
answer: modern axle concepts.
Two apparently more mutually
exclusive qualities are high
performance and excellent driving
safet y, which we resolved with
precise traction control systems
and powerful t yres and brakes.
Panamera 4S
Performance | Chassis
Unfortunately, the condition of the roads is beyond our control.
We’ll just make the car adapt instead.
Chassis.
1. Air suspension compressed -air
accumulator
2. Rear axle air suspension modules
3. RA vibration damper with PASM
4. FA air-spring strut with PASM
5. Compressor air outlet
(underneath fuel tank)
6. Air suspension pressure line
7. Double wishbone front axle
8. Multi - link rear axle
9. PDK
10. PTM (multi - plate clutch)
11. Rear axle dif ferential
12. Fuel tank

· 64 ·· 65 ·
Performance | Chassis
Suspension.
The front axle has a wide-spaced
aluminium double wishbone
arrangement with an aluminium subframe. The wide spacing
bet ween the wishbones keeps the
forces in the wheel suspension
low for precision wheel guidance
and excellent handling. The rear axle is an aluminium
multi-link setup. This axle design
minimises the pitching of the body
under acceleration and braking.
The high proportion of aluminium
used in the construction of the
axles reduces the weight of
the vehicle and of the unsprung
masses, helping to improve fuel
economy and increase agilit y.
Steering and Servotronic.
Precise and direct: describes a
t ypical Porsche steering system
–
with variable steering ratio.
Around the straight ahead position,
such as during motorway driving,
the ratio is less direct with no loss
of agilit y or feedback from the
road. When the steering wheel is
turned further, the ratio becomes
more direct, allowing easier cor -
nering and parking.
Servotronic, a speed-sensitive
power-steering system, is available
as an option for all Panamera
models. At high speeds, the steer -
ing is firm and responds with
extreme precision while steering comfort remains as high as you
would expect. At low speeds,
Servotronic’s ratio adjusts for
easy manoeuvring and parking.
Wheels and Tyre Pressure
Monitoring (TPM).
The new Panamera and Panamera 4
models are fit ted as standard with
18-inch Panamera wheels, the
Panamera S and 4S with 18-inch
Panamera S wheels. All wheels
are light weight alloys featuring a
classic sport y design. Tyre sizes
245/50 ZR 18 and 275/45 ZR 18
are fit ted to the front and rear,
respectively. The Panamera Turbo is equipped
with 19 -inch Panamera Turbo alloy
wheels as standard. The t yres
are slightly wider to cope with the
increased power output of this
model: 255/45 ZR 19 at the front,
285/40 ZR 19 at the rear.
A selection of 18-inch to 20 -inch
wheels is available from our range
of options (p. 147).
19-inch all-season t yres are
offered as an alternative at no
extra cost for all Panamera
models with standard or optional
19-inch wheels. A low-rolling
resistance version of these t yres
is available as an option*. The
three
main components of the
Panamera Turbo front axle
Panamera Turbo rear axle 19 - inch Panamera Turbo wheel
18 - inch Panamera S wheel
18 - inch Panamera wheel
t yre – the rubber compound, the
tread pat tern and the architec -
ture of the t yre substructure –
have been optimised to minimise
roll resistance and thus improve
fuel economy, with no ef fect on
comfort or performance compared
with the regular 19 -inch all-season
t yres.
For increased comfort and safet y,
Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPM)
sends warnings to the on -board
computer’s display screen in
the event of low t yre pressure as
well as in the event of a loss of
pressure. The system is available
as an option for the Panamera
and Panamera 4 and is standard
in all other models.
* Available from 10/2010 at the earliest.

· 86 ·· 87 ·
Balance | Safet y
On request, we can equip any
Panamera model in the range with
a braking system that has already
had to cope with the harshest
requirements of the racetrack: the
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB). For the Panamera
and Panamera S models, it is
available only in conjunction with
19 -inch wheels or larger and for
the Panamera Turbo, it is com
-
patible only with 20 -inch wheels.
On the Panamera and
Panamera S models, the cross-
drilled ceramic brake discs have
a diameter of 390 mm at the
front and 350 mm at the rear. To
cope with more powerful brak -
ing on the Panamera Turbo,
these discs are 410 mm at the
front and 350 mm at the rear.
PCCB is characterised by its low
thermal expansion, which pre -
vents deformation under heav y
braking. Furthermore, the
ceramic brake discs are totally
resistant to corrosion and offer
more favourable noise- damping
properties. The use of six-piston aluminium
monobloc brake calipers on the
front axle and four-piston units at
the rear – all finished in yellow
– ensures extremely high brake
forces which, crucially, are excep
-
tionally consistent. The pedal
response is fast and precise with
only moderate input required.
All the necessary ingredients are
there for a short braking distance,
even in the toughest conditions.
Moreover, safet y under braking at
high speeds is increased thanks
to the excellent fade resistance of
PCCB.
The key advantage of PCCB is
the extremely low weight of the
ceramic brake discs, which are
approximately 50 % lighter than
standard discs of similar design
and size. As well as enhancing
performance and fuel economy, this represents a major reduction
in unsprung and rotating masses.
The consequence of this is bet ter
road holding and increased com
-
fort, particularly on uneven roads,
as well as greater agilit y and
improved handling. Please note that circuit racing,
track day use and other forms of
performance driving can signifi
-
cantly reduce the service life of
even the most durable brake pads
and discs.
As with conventional high-
performance braking systems,
we recommend that all brake
components be professionally
inspected and replaced where
necessary after every track
event.
PCCB
Presumably, you won’t be using your Panamera for motorsport activities.
But you never know.
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB).

· 88 ·· 89 ·
of impact and minimise deforma-
tion of the passenger cell. Pas -
sive safet y is
further enhanced
by the aluminium
subframe on
the front axle, which is designed
to deform in a defined manner.
A rigid bulkhead cross member
reduces deformation of the foot -
well in the event of an impact
and provides improved protection
for the feet and legs. In a minor
collision, a system of easily
replaceable impact absorbers
prevents costly damage to the
underlying bodyshell.
The axles, bonnet, front wings,
doors and rear lid are made of
aluminium, which saves on weight
and therefore fuel.
Active bonnet system.
The active bonnet system is
designed with enhanced pedes-
trian safet y in mind. When the
sensors in the front apron detect
a collision, this pyrotechnically
assisted system raises the rear
portion of the bonnet, which can
help to reduce the risk of injury.
The ongoing development of the
light weight steel construction
used in Porsche vehicles makes a
key contribution to the level of
safet y of fered by the Panamera
model range. Indeed, the rigidit y
of the body work is exemplary.
The fully galvanised and light
-
weight hybrid construction, made
from super- high -tensile and
stainless steels, magnesium and
aluminium, produces a highly
resilient passenger cell that of fers
high levels of protection in the
event of an impact. A patented
system of longitudinal and trans -
verse members at the front gives
three separate load paths that
absorb energy, disperse the force
Magnesium
Aluminium
Deep-drawn steels
Super- high -streng th micro -alloyed steels
Polyphase steels
Boron-alloyed steels
Balance | Safet y
It sometimes pays to be a tough nut to crack.
Engineered safety design.
Active bonnet system

· 92 ·· 93 ·
concerned, we are already among
those manufacturers achieving
the lowest CO2 em issio ns. T h is
has been achieved through the
new ef ficient engine technology
(e.g. by DFI and VarioCam Plus),
light weight construction, optimum
aerodynamics and low rolling
resistance. This high level of environmental
responsibilit y is clearly demon
-
strated by our approach to envi -
ronmental management at the
Porsche Development Centre in
Weissach. Here, all technological
developments are carried out
with environmental protection in
mind. The goal is pure perform -
ance – but not at the expense of
the environment. A goal achieved
by the Panamera.
Fuel economy and emission
control.
Vehicles manufactured by Porsche
demonstrate that even high-
performance sportscars can
achieve moderate fuel consump -
tion and
exhaust emission values
in their
respective categor y.
The balance is exemplary: the
Panamera, Panamera 4 and
Panamera Turbo comply with the
Euro 5 emission standard in
Europe and the LEV regulations in
the USA, the Panamera S and
Panamera 4S meet the require -
ments of EU 5 and ULEV.
This is achieved through the use
of fuel- ef ficient technologies such
as direct fuel injection (DFI, p. 51)
and VarioCam Plus (p. 52).
Efficient emission control is
achieved by a t wo -stage cascade-
t ype cataly tic converter, which
comprises t wo monoliths arranged
in series. These specially coated
substrates contain ultra-fine honey -
comb
channels in which pollutants
are converted as exhaust gas
passes through.
The stereo Lambda control circuitr y
controls and monitors each cylin -
der bank separately. For each
exhaust tract, oxygen sensors
regulate the composition of the
exhaust gas, while another Lambda
s
ensor on each cylinder bank
monitors pollutant conversion in
the respective cataly tic converter.**
Environmental protection.
In an era of intensif ying debate
about global climate change and
CO
2 emissions, every automotive manufacturer is asking what it has
to of fer in terms of environmental
protection. Our answer has long
been the same: maximum effi
-
ciency. Porsche has been reducing the
CO
2 emissions of its vehicles
by an average of around 1.7 %*
every year for the past 15 years.
As far as engine output is
As a Panamera driver, you are responsible for four people.
We are responsible for everyone else.
Porsche and the environment.
Balance | Environment
* The stated reduction in fuel consumption
has been calculated from the NEDC (New
European Drive Cycle) fuel consumption
figures for the respective model years
of the vehicles and in relation to the
applicable European legislation.
** Not in markets with leaded fuel.