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Even if you're not a fan of the Panamera's questionable looks - and we're most definitely not - can you complain about a grand-touring Porsche that returns 43.5mpg? It will be the most fuel-efficient car in the manufacturer's history. And what concessions will we have to make for such thrift? Not many, actually.
See more pics of the diesel Panamera
The twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine in Porsche's new Panamera produces impressively Porschey performance - 250bhp and 405lb ft of torque (36 more than the V8 petrol-powered S) - which gets it to 62mph in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 150mph.
You'll be able to get 745 miles out of every 80-litre tank. That's 425 laps of the Top Gear test track. And if you spec lower rolling resistance tyres you get even more to the gallon - 44.8, to be precise. That's another few goes round Dunsfold right there.
The standard spec's not bad either. The £62,134 entry-level Panamera D - recognisable by slightly unbecoming ‘diesel' graphics on the door - gets leather seats, engine stop/start, a vehicle tracking security system and touch-screen satnav before you start ticking option boxes.
Don't expect it to grab you by the bits in the handling stakes. It's rear-wheel drive only and comes with the economy-biased eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox. But if you want the real Porsche experience - and the 24.8mpg that goes with it - go buy a 911. This one, ideally.
We’ll reserve judgement until we’ve driven one. But if you can swallow the styling, cake and eating it do spring to mind for this correspondent...
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
Cardinal_Fang commented on this article
at 10:52 am on 03 May 2011
Of course it will - it's got the Porsche badge on the front, and to a lot of people that's all that matters. I'm surprised they haven't stuck it on a bus.....oh, they have, it's called the Cayenne.
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Takk commented on this article
at 11:32 am on 03 May 2011
No love lost there
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Lamborgboy commented on this article
at 12:24 pm on 03 May 2011
didn't one one any way a diesel will make that worse and 4 £62k you could but an m5 or 911 carrera 2
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Smot commented on this article
at 01:13 pm on 03 May 2011
Wanting an economical Porsche is a bit like looking for a virtuous prostitute.
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Showie commented on this article
at 01:25 pm on 03 May 2011
i'm not sure if i would prefer to have this car in my street, or wake up to Wayne Rooney standing over my bed. either way it would be bad.
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