The 2011 Porsche Panamera lineup expands to include lower-price V6-powered models. Panamera is a 4-passenger, 4-door hatchback. Rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive "4" models are offered. All use a front-mounted engine. New for 2011 is the base Panamera, which has a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine. It joins the high-power S, 4S, and Turbo, all of which use a 4.8-liter V8 engine. S and 4S have 400 horsepower, and the Turbo has 500. All Panamera models have a 7-speed dual-clutch automated-manual transmission that behaves much like an automatic. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, front- and rear-side airbags, and front-knee airbags. All have an engine stop and start feature that shuts off the engine when the car is stopped and restarts it when the brake pedal is released. Electronic suspension control is standard on all models. Available features include 4-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, split-folding rear seat, a rear refrigerator, steering-linked bi-xenon headlights, adaptive cruise control, and DVD entertainment. Newly available on the Panamera is Porsche Torque Vectoring, which can automatically distribute engine torque between the rear wheels based on factors including steering angle, steering speed, throttle pedal position, and vehicle speed.
