Porsche Panamera prices announced

Porsche has announced UK prices for its Panamera, and that all PDK-equipped cars will come with stop-start technology – the ‘entry-level’ S starts at £72,266, rising to £95,298 for the range-topping Panamera Turbo. By comparison, a Cayenne GTS is £54,085 and a Cayenne Turbo is £75,137

So what do I get on my £95k Porsche Panamera Turbo?

For a start there’s the 493bhp twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 mated to Porsche’s four-wheel drive system and seven-speed double-clutch PDK gearbox. Then there are also 19-inch wheels, adaptive air suspension, a 14-speaker Bose sound system, metallic paint, heated front and rear seats and a multi-functional steering wheel. But boot space on the Turbo is only 432 litres, while naturally aspirated Panameras have a 445-litre capacity.

On top of that, all models (from the S to Turbo) get a full leather interior, Porsche’s Active Suspension Management system (PASM), bi-xenon lights and sat-nav. There’s also a ‘Sport’ button that adjusts the throttle response and PASM settings, while PDK-equipped cars come with a stop-start system as standard – PDK is standard on 4S and Turbo models, but a £2289 option on the S.

Other options available across the range include 20-inch wheels, ceramic brakes, electric rear seats and a Burmester 16-speaker system that produces over 1000 watts.

And on my more mundane S and 4S?

A slightly more run-of-the-mill non-turbo 4.8-litre V8, one that must make do with just 394bhp – it’s the entry-level model until the V6 version arrives in 2010. And if you’re buying an S model, remember it is rear-wheel drive and comes with a manual ‘box as standard.

>> If you had £100k lying around would you buy a Porsche Panamera, or splurge on a big Merc or BMW instead? Click ‘Add your comment’ below and have your say.