by Calvin Fisher
I slipped behind the wheel of the Porsche Panamera 4 and immediately knew I was about to have a great time. Let’s talk about Porsche’s perennial super limo, here with 260 kW and 500 Nm under the hood – a comfy saloon eager to devour as many kilometres as I’d feed it. And feed it I would, as we embarked on a road trip from Century City to the picturesque Bokrivier Cottages, some 170km away. Fun fact – with the Sport Chrono Package equipped, the Panamera 4 will hit 100kph in just 4.8 seconds, 160kph in 11,9 seconds and if you’re brave enough to keep the throttle pinned for 20 seconds, that’s 200kph well met. So that’s nice.
But first some ‘ho hum’ as we navigated the urban motorways and highways on our exit from the city centre, the Panamera 4 gliding effortlessly, its all-wheel-drive system feeling like overkill here. It was only when we hit the twistier N2, specifically Sir Lowry’s Pass, that this beast truly responded. Keep in mind the ‘4’ is positioned just one model above the base ‘two-wheel drive car’ at R2,34mil (versus that car’s R2,26mil sticker) in a range that includes hybrids, a driver-centric GTS model and a pair of brutal Turbo-badged phenoms – with a flagship topping out at R4,8mil. Or, literally twice the price of the one I’m currently (more than) thrilled to drive with its purring 2,9l six-cyl petrol engine. This has been paired with a creamy Porsche auto ‘box and when you combine this with Stuttgart’s reputation for delivering sublime handling, I was feeling more than satisfied at the helm. We danced through the turns, the Panamera 4 hugging the road like a dream, me giggling at the discovery of the driving mode selector on the steering wheel. I stuck it in sport for the bulk of the trip, who wouldn’t? But must add that my second-best feature on the wheel was certainly the heated helm feature, this has been a particularly freezing Cape winter, you see.
As we pulled into Greyton, we received a visual reminder that the Panamera, practical as it may be, is a Porsche and by virtue, no slouch in invoking severe rubbernecking from onlookers. Especially this iteration with its sleek lines, aggressive stance, and striking blue paint job. That is, until we painted it a bit brown – thanks to the 40km stretch of gravel between Bokrivier and Greyton. I was a tad apprehensive, but the Panamera 4 took it in stride. Here the all-wheel drive system and suspension worked in harmony, soaking up the bumps and irregularities with ease while we skimmed along the dirt roads puzzling its horse-riding denizens, cows and the occasional chicken. An hour later we had the most interesting car in the parking lot of the local coffee shop. Tick, tick, tick – the sound of a hurried sports saloon cooling down.
Verdict? The Porsche Panamera 4 is sublime. A well-orchestrated combo of power, comfort, and style that left me grinning from ear to ear. Whether devouring asphalt or dirt, this car is a true performer. And as we settled once more into our rural locale, watching the sunset over the rolling hills, I knew this road trip would be etched in my memory forever. I think they call this next part a sidebar.
SIDEBAR After crashing my mountain bike in April, we discovered that I had brain cancer. Since that day, I’ve had brain surgery, recovered and thankfully been given the all-clear from my doctor. But for a good while, I didn’t think I would make it to my next birthday. I’m rather lucky. Not only did I make it, but it coincided with my test period with this Panamera 4. This trip to Bokrivier was in fact my celebratory road trip with my wife Kelly. In our former lives, we worked for competing motoring titles, and this is ultimately how we met. One of the first launches we attended together was of the original Porsche Panamera, which we both fell in love with. Or perhaps it was the beginnings of a love triangle between us and Stuttgart’s finest sedan. Who’s to say? Either way, thank you Porsche for the memories.
