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Next-Gen Porsche Panamera Turbo To Be As Quick As A Former Supercar

Supercars and hypercars provide an interesting look at what was considered to be state of the art at the time. From exotic materials to extensive aero and engineering work, these vehicles give us an idea of how far we have come when it comes to comparing them to standard sports cars.
Posted: May 31, 2016 - 9:20AM
Author: Will Maley
Porsche Panamera Turbo

For example, the head of Porsche Panamera program, Gernot Doller told Autocar the next-generation Panamera Turbo can lap the Nürburgring “as fast as our previous super-sports car”. That car in question is the Carrera GT which lapped the infamous racetrack in 7:28.

How?!

A lot has changed since the Carrera GT first debuted in the early 2000's. At the time, this model was considered quite advanced for the time with a carbon fiber chassis, forged magnesium wheels, race-bred V10 engine producing, and other bits. At the time, the Carrera GT was very light for a supercar with a curb weight of 3,146 pounds. The current Panamera Turbo is a porker when compared to the Carrera GT - it weighs 4,343 pounds.

We don't know how much the new Panamera Turbo will weigh, but we expect to be a little bit lighter than the current model. There will still be a big difference between the weight of the Panamera and Carrera GT. So, how can the new Panamera Turbo match the Carrera GT's time?

There's a few items at play. First, the Panamera Turbo comes uses a dual-clutch transmission - PDK in Porsche speak. Compared to the six-speed manual in the GT, the PDK is just quicker when it comes to up and downshifting. Next is the Turbo being equipped with an all-wheel drive that allows it to put the power down to the road without any traction loss, something you cannot say with the GT. Finally, we wouldn't be surprised if the new turbo engine packs a bit more punch than the current one - 520 horsepower.

Pic Credit: Porsche

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