While the Panamera has always been renowned for combining comfort with sportiness, the latest edition is taking on an even sportier edge as proven by the automaker ahead of its world premiere. In a slightly camouflaged series production car, test driver Lars Kern completed a full lap of the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife over a distance of 20.832 kilometers in an astounding 7:29.81 minutes, around 13 seconds faster than the predecessor model. In the official ranking of the race track organization, this time certified by a notary public now stands as a new record in the “executive cars” category.
“The enhancements made to the chassis and the powertrain of the new Panamera were always noticeable during this lap on what is recognized as the most demanding race track in the world,” says Kern. “In particularly challenging sections of the track, the new setup of the electromechanical roll stabilization system remains consistently effective and provides the Panamera with incredible stability in spite of the bumpy track surface. Furthermore, the car benefited from the improved lateral dynamics and the increased grip of the new Michelin sports tires. I achieved cornering speeds that I would not have believed possible with the Panamera.”
Even greater enhancements to comfort and sportiness
“The Panamera has always been both an exclusive touring saloon and a true sports car at the same time. In the new model, we have enhanced those characteristics even more,” says Thomas Friemuth, Vice President Product Line Panamera. “Alongside the increased engine power, improvements have been made in the areas of cornering stability, body control and steering precision. These enhancements benefit both everyday comfort and performance. The lap record is impressive proof of this.”
At an outside temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and with a track temperature of 34 degrees Celsius, Lars Kern started the lap at 1:49 pm on 24 July 2020 and crossed the finish line 7:29.81 minutes later. The record-breaking Panamera was equipped with a racing seat and a safety cage as protection for the driver. The notary public also confirmed the series production status of the still camouflaged four-door saloon, coinciding with the celebration of its world premiere at the end of last month.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 sports tire developed especially for the new Panamera and used for the record lap is now optionally available for racing lovers wishing to equip their new Panamera purchase with the same sporty tire option.
Around 13 seconds faster than the predecessor model
The lap record underlines the comprehensive enhancement of the second generation Panamera. In 2016, Lars Kern already completed the circuit in the Eifel region in a time of 7:38.46 minutes, driving a Panamera Turbo with an output of 550 PS. The past record time was achieved over the then usual distance for lap record attempts of 20.6 kilometers.
In accordance with the new statutes of the race track organization, the lap time was now measured over the complete Nordschleife distance of 20.832 km. For comparison: Lars Kern and the new Panamera already passed the 20.6 km mark after 7:25.04 minutes. The record-breaking car and driver combination was therefore around 13 seconds faster than four years ago.
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