Shortly before its launch, the new Panamera top model has made its mark on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. With Porsche test driver Lars Kern behind the wheel, a pre-series variant of the high-performance touring saloon completed the legendary course 5.64 seconds faster than the comparable model of the previous generation. Lars’ new best time of 7:24.17 minutes is a record for luxury class cars with combustion engines and hybrids; the future top model of the Panamera series.
Lars Kern had already set class records on the Nordschleife in 2016 and 2020 in the Panamera, most recently in the Panamera Turbo S (7:29.81 minutes). “On the Nordschleife, the transverse dynamic capabilities of a car are particularly important,” Kern comments. “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 test driver Lars Kern set a new record in a Panamera
The new Panamera’s lap time, over five seconds quicker than the previous model, underlines the consistent further development of the four-door sports car. Its electrically supported eight-cylinder combustion engine enables impressive driving performance, but this is not the only reason for the improved lap time.
“The powertrain, the aerodynamics, the chassis, the new ultra-high-performance tires from Michelin – many aspects have contributed to this best time,” Kern adds. The new Porsche Active Ride chassis has made a particularly big contribution. The car stays parallel to the road at all times. Its cornering and body stability 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.”
Safety enhancements
To protect the driver, the Panamera piloted by Lars Kern was equipped with a racing seat and the mandatory safety cage, but otherwise corresponded to the series version. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 with dimensions 275/35 ZR 21 at the front and 325/30 ZR 21 at the rear was specially developed for the Panamera. For optimized performance, the optional Carbon Aerokit eliminates lift on the front axle. In combination with the Gurney flap on the adaptive 4-way rear spoiler, the end result is that downforce is generated. This boosts the aerodynamic balance.
A video of the complete Nordschleife lap with onboard footage will soon be available for you to watch on YouTube.
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Above content © 2024 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee
