Porsche announced on the 5th that the new Panamera series’ top internal combustion and plug-in hybrid model achieved a record time of 7 minutes and 24.17 seconds at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, setting a new luxury class record.
Lars Kern, who previously set class records at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with the Panamera models in 2016 and 2020, recently clocked a time of 7 minutes and 29.81 seconds in the Panamera Turbo S. Kern shared, “Lateral dynamic performance is especially crucial at the Nordschleife, and the new Panamera provides top-notch performance in this area. It exhibits exceptional agility in the technically challenging cornering sections between ‘Hohe Acht’ and ‘Brünnchen.’”
The new Panamera demonstrates the continuous evolution of the four-door sports car, recording a lap time more than 5 seconds faster than the previous model. The improved lap time of the new Panamera, which combines an 8-cylinder internal combustion engine and an electric motor for impressive driving performance, is attributed to several factors.
Kern emphasized, “There are various factors such as the powertrain, aerodynamics, chassis, and Michelin’s high-performance tires, but notably, the new Porsche Active Ride chassis made the most significant contribution.” He also stated, “The new Panamera maintains parallelism with the road, offering an entirely new level of cornering and vehicle stability. It perfectly combines the advantages of a unique touring sedan with daily driving stability and performance on the track.”
The Panamera driven by Kern is identical to the production model, except for the racing seat and essential safety cage installed for the driver’s safety. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (front: 275/35 ZR 21, rear: 325/30 ZR 21) were specially developed for the new Panamera and optimized for performance by removing the lift from the optional carbon aerokit’s front axle. The gurney flap of the four-way adaptive rear spoiler generates greater downforce, enhancing aerodynamic balance.
The complete Nordschleife lap video, including onboard footage, can be found on Porsche’s newsroom and YouTube channel.
Written by Lee Sang-jin daedusj@utodiary.kr