2017 Porsche Panamera Bows With Sportier, Sleeker Styling

The 2017 Porsche Panamera has been introduced at a special event in Berlin, Germany.

The event kicked off with a bizarre fashion show of sorts along with an artistic presentation showing glimpses of the next-generation sedan. The German automaker also placed an emphasis on contradiction, highlighting the stage with a breakdancer and a ballerina, as a way to point at the Panamera’s contrasting abilities to be both sporty and luxurious.

As expected, the new Panamera sticks to a familiar design but boasts a sleeker, sportier style than its predecessor. The second-generation model will also be completely built in Leipzig, Germany with the company investing heavily into its factory for production.

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At its launch, the Porsche Panamera will offer three high-performance engines, at least in Europe. At the top of the range is the Porsche Panamera Turbo, sporting a redesigned 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 550 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. The standard Porsche Panamera 4S model will come with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with 440 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. There is also a diesel-turbo V8 engine sporting 422 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, although it’s unclear whether that will head to the U.S. All powerplants are mated to an eight-speed, dual-clutch PDK transmission and Porsche promises that a pair of high-performance plug-in hybrid variants will join the lineup at a future date.

The model will also feature new autonomous driving technologies, with the capability of self-driving and self-braking at speeds up to 37 mph. The cabin has also been overhauled with an all-new interior, sporting fewer buttons and switches without sacrificing functionality. Owners will be able to interact with their vehicles through a touchpad with similar gestures as a smartphone or tablet.

Porsche was also quick to brag that the 2017 Panamera lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 38 seconds, making it comparable to the Porsche 997 GT3. That also means the Porsche Panamera has dethroned the Alfa Romeo Giulia (7:39) as the fastest luxury sedan on the Nurburgring.

Watch a series of videos showcasing the 2017 Porsche Panamera below.