Porsche Panamera 4.8 V8 Turbo 4dr Car Review - February 2012

Going from 0-62mph in a time of 4.2 seconds this Porsche Panamera boasts a dangerously fast top speed of 188mph, but with truly excellent handling at high speeds it does not feel dangerous to drive.

Delivering power of 493bhp at 6000rpm and with torque of 516lb-ft at 2250-4500rpm, through a 7-speed PDK automatic transmission, the Super Unleaded petrol engine has plenty of power throughout the range.

This is also a very agile car which holds the road well and has almost no body roll, and although it can feel at times like the cars many electronic systems are doing almost as much of the driving as you are, the excellent handling means that this is a larger 4 door car which can be driven more like a 2 door coupé.

Not everyone has been impressed by the visual appeal of this car because it is not as bold or eye-catching as some cars in this price range, bit there is still no doubting that this is a good looking car. If you prefer sexy curves to clinical supercar style lines then you will love the design of the Panamera Turbo. On the inside, you get a real luxury feel to the cabin.

There is also a good range of equipment included, from the PSM stability control to more mundane features like cruise control, climate control, immobiliser, air bags for the driver, the passenger, and in the front-sides, and rear parking sensors. You also get alloy wheels and leather seats to finish of the appearance, and a full suite of electronics including SatNav, CD player, and both MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity.

But if you are looking for maximum exhilaration then think about upgrading to the Turbo S, which features an F1 style touch button launch control that knocks the 0-62mph acceleration time down to a blistering 3.8 seconds.

With four seats and up to 1250-litres of boot space with the seats down (or 432 with the seats up), this is clearly a more practical car than a 2 seat coupé, whilst giving you the kind of performance that you just cannot get from other larger cars.

But it is not a cheap car to run at all, managing just 24.6mpg. CO2 emissions come in at 270g/km, and the insurance group is 50M.

The only plus point is that it should be reliable, and shouldn't need too much attention with a recommended service interval of 20,000 miles. It comes with a 3 year, unlimited mile warranty.

With a high price tag of £102,909 and eye-watering running costs the Porsche Panamera 4.8 V8 Turbo does not compare particularly well to other fast saloons. If you want to keep the costs down then Porsche offer a diesel version of the Panamera which makes better financial sense and comes close to matching the petrol V8 Turbo for performance.