Video: Watch Porsche’s Newest Panamera Break a Nürburgring Record
Not long before its official launch date, Porsche’s latest Panamera set a high bar at the Nürburgring. The new top model Panamera, driven by Porsche test driver Lars Kern, made it around the Nordschleife in a quick 7 minutes and 24.17 seconds on Friday, July 12th, making it the fastest car in the Nürburgring’s “four-door executive sedan” segment. The top-level Panamera is more than three seconds faster than the previous record-holder, a Mercedes-AMG GT63 S.
Lars Kern is no stranger to breaking records, having already set class records on the Nordschleife in 2016 and 2020 in the Panamera, and most recently in the Panamera Turbo S. “On the Nordschleife, the transverse dynamic capabilities of a car are particularly important,” Kern explained in Porsche’s press release, adding, “The new Panamera has made significant gains in this area. In technically demanding corner sequences in particular, such as between the ‘Hohe Acht’ and ‘Brünnchen’ sections of the track section, it responds with noticeably greater agility.”
Porsche has not released the full specs of the yet-to-be-revealed top Panamera trim, but the press release does state it is powered by an “electrically supported eight-cylinder combustion engine.” The new Panamera’s lap time was over five seconds quicker than the previous-generation Panamera Turbo S., which “underlines the consistent further development of the four-door sports car,” according to Porsche.
“The powertrain, the aerodynamics, the chassis, the new ultra-high-performance tyres from Michelin – many aspects have contributed to this best time,” Kern said. “The new Porsche Active Ride chassis has made a particularly big contribution as the car stays well connected to the road at all times. Its cornering and body control are on a whole new level. As a driver, this gives me a good feeling and further underlines that our development doesn’t just offer maximum day-to-day driving comfort, but also makes a real difference on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. No other Porsche offers such a wide spectrum between comfort and sportiness. The new Panamera combines the positive properties of an exclusive touring saloon with the handling of a sports car.”
Aside from the specially developed optional 21-inch Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, the car also wore a new optional carbon fiber aerodynamic body kit which features a gurney flap for the four-way adaptive rear wing to improve airflow, reduce drag, and increase downforce.
The record-setting pre-production model, which will likely be emblazoned with a Turbo S E-Hybrid nameplate, is representative of what will be available at dealerships, minus the racing bucket seat and mandated roll cage.
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