Costs and options

* Shanghai debut for luxury Porsche * Petrol-electric hybrid on the way * On sale in the autumn, from 72,266...

Costs and options

Costs and options
Porsche has announced that the three versions that go on sale in the UK this autumn will be the rear-wheel-drive 400bhp S at 72,266, the four-wheel-drive 400bhp 4S at 77,269 and the 4WD 500bhp Turbo that will cost 95,298.

Prices are significantly cheaper than those in Germany because of pound-euro exchange rates, and competitive with those of rivals such as the Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class AMG models and Audi's S8. The forthcoming Aston Martin Rapide and even Bentley's Continental Flying Spur are other potential distractions for buyers.

The seven-speed semi-auto gearbox will be available with all three versions, although it is an extra-cost option to a six-speed manual on the rear-drive model.

Full leather trim, variable suspension, bi-xenon lights, a touchscreen sat-nav will all be standard fittings, while the Turbo gets a Bose surround-sound stereo, metallic paint, heated front seats with 14- rather than eight-way electronic adjustment, and rear side airbags.

Options include stability control with a limited-slip differential, and electrically adjustable rear seats with built-in ventilation.

On the practical side, the Panamera has plenty of room to accommodate four tall passengers, and a boot that will take four suitcases, but that can be enlarged by folding down one or both of the rear seats