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2014 Porsche Panamera 4S Proves Value of Launch Control

For those of you not into the model year specifics of the Porsche range, the 2014 Panamera is considered a new model of the Stuttgart saloon, one which brings about radical changes. Gone is the old naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8, replaced with something lacking 1.8 liters of displacement and two cylinders. Yes, a 3.0 turbo V6!
2014 Porsche Panamera 4S 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
This is Porsche’s own creation, designed to reduce fuel consumption to as little as 7.2 l/100km for this 4S model with all-wheel drive. Another upside is that while power remains about the same (420 hp), there’s lots of low end torque, 520 Nm of it available from just 1,750rpm. It’s not exactly slow either, as Porsche’s own figures suggest 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 286 km/h.

However, the numbers only tell half the story, as this next clip is about to prove. The Panamera 4S is undoubtedly as fast as a sportscar, despite weighing in the best part of two tons. But, you can only get those numbers we mentioned if you use the launch control feature, which keeps the needle pinned right to 5,000rpm as you leave the line, the 19-inch wheels struggling to find grip.

With launch control, the 4S in the video reaches 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds (identical speedo indicated figure and GPS). Without it, it takes 5.4 seconds, 0.8 seconds more. It’s still fast, but not in the same league.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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