The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition comes fitted with Porsche's Active Suspension Management (PASM) system as standard, along with a 2.9 litre twin turbo V6 that is found on the base model car as well. The latest Platinum Edition cars however, come with an analog clock in place of the standard sports chrono in the middle of the dashboard.
Key Platinum Edition Upgrades
While the drivetrain, transmission, and suspension setups on the Panamera Platinum Edition are the same as the base Panamera, the car's upgrades are geared toward providing an elevated level of luxury as opposed to performance upgrades.
On the inside, a panoramic roof and interior ambient lights are fitted to the car, along with 8 way adjustable sports seats, embossed headrest, and a Bose sound system. On the exterior, satin finish emblems, trims, and wheels make up the core upgrades for the Platinum Edition car.
Possibly the Most Versatile Porsche
While the Panamera is generally regarded as the most uncharacteristic Porsche, it might actually simultaneously be the most versatile one to drive and own. If you're the sort that requires your daily driver to be a jack of all trades, the Panamera isn't a tough sell. As one of only two Porsche models to be equipped with PASM as standard (the other model being the 911), the Panamera happily shifts between its duties as a long distance cruiser, family car, and occasional sports car, offering users a great amount of versatility in how they'd like to drive and setup their Panamera.
In terms of legroom, overall comfort, cargo space, and having 4 doors, the Porsche Cayenne overlaps into this segment, and is a great car on its own. However, where the two cars are differentiated are on longer road trips and journeys where high speed cruising in the low slung Panamera just feels more natural, and more confidence inducing. Somehow, you also get quite a bit less wind roar around the Panamera at speed as compared to the Cayenne - which is to me, a subtle, but significant point of differentiation.
PDK Makes All the Difference
Although the Panamera and the Cayenne both sport very similar engines, the Panamera is equipped with the delight Porsche Doppel Kupplungs (PDK) transmission, which is essentially Porsche's version of a dual clutch gearbox. In comparison, the Cayenne utilises a torque converter. The delightful PDK transmission is lightning quick, and under heavy acceleration, brings out the best in the otherwise understated Panamera. The same PDK transmission is now also fitted to most 992 generation Porsche 911 cars.
If you are big on the performance factor, and often find yourself racing the Grab uncle beside you at traffic lights, you'll definitely enjoy the speed and agility of a PDK gearbox. On the flip side, if you're a mellow fellow and just want to partake in the prestige and luxury that Porsche has to offer, the Cayenne Coupe might be another interesting choice due to its sleeker and more aesthetically skewed body styling.
Who Will it Appeal to?
I've never owned at SUV in my life - for the simple reason that I tend to dislike the way they feel when cruising at high speeds. If you share this sentiment with me, and generally prefer the low slung, long distance cruiser, I think you'll deeply enjoy the Panamera as a car. To top it off, if you're ever in the mood for a drag race, you know you've got a vehicle with some street cred - all without compromising on other car ownership considerations like comfort and space.
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