Porsche Panamera (970)
2009–2016 · Porsche Panamera (970) — Luxury Saloon, V8, designed by Michael Mauer.
The Story
The Panamera 970 is the car that proved a Porsche could have four doors and still be a Porsche. Launched in 2009, it was the brand’s first four-door GT — a long, low, fastback luxury saloon aimed at the Mercedes CLS and Maserati Quattroporte, offered with everything from a V6 to a 500-PS twin-turbo V8 (Turbo) and an early petrol-electric hybrid. Its ‘hunchback’ styling divided opinion sharply, but its driving never did: the Panamera handled with the poise of a sports coupe, embarrassing far smaller cars, while pampering four adults in genuine Porsche-built luxury. Controversial to look at, brilliant to drive, it expanded Porsche’s range without diluting its DNA — and laid the foundation for the Taycan.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Luxury Saloon class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Michael Mauer
Mauer led design at Mercedes and Saab before succeeding Lagaaij at Porsche in 2004, where he has overseen every modern Porsche line. Since 2022 he has also directed design across the entire Volkswagen Group.
Studio Motors POV
The first four-door Porsche — divisive to look at, brilliant to drive, and the foundation of the modern range. A sorted, documented Turbo or GTS is a huge amount of capable luxury GT for the money; buy on maintenance history.
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Panamera (970)
Worth Knowing About the Panamera (970)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) It was Porsche's first-ever four-door production car — a luxury GT saloon, not a sports car, yet it handled like one. 2) Its 'hunchback' rear styling was the most divisive thing about it; the driving experience was universally praised. 3) It was an early hybrid pioneer for Porsche — the S E-Hybrid previewed the electrified four-doors (and ultimately the Taycan) to come.
5 Fast Facts
- • 2009–2016; Porsche's first four-door GT. • V6 / V8 / V8 TT (Turbo 500 PS, Turbo S 550 PS) / S E-Hybrid. • Divisive 'hunchback' looks, sports-coupe handling. • Rivals: the Mercedes CLS, Maserati Quattroporte, Aston Rapide. • A hybrid pioneer — the foundation for the Taycan.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
FLAG: no single documented/citable celebrity owner verified here. (Excluded rather than guessed.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The Turbo / Turbo S (V8) and the GTS are the performance picks; the V6 and S E-Hybrid are the value/efficiency choices. As an older luxury performance car, condition and full service history are everything (air suspension, electronics). A well-maintained, documented 970 is a lot of fast, luxurious four-door for the money — buy on history, not price.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Porsche Panamera (970)
- Class
- Luxury Saloon
- Production years
- 2009–2016
- Units built
- FLAG: per-variant/generation production not published
- Variants
- S/4S (V8), Turbo (V8 TT), V6 (from 2010), S E-Hybrid (PHEV), Diesel; Sport Turismo concept
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V8
- Engine family
- M48 V8
- Displacement
- 4.8L / 4806 cc
- Power
- 424 hp
- Torque
- 384 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 4.4 s
- Top speed
- 179 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 227 hp/tonne · 9.7 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 7-speed PDK
- Drivetrain
- AWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 4123 lb
Questions
Panamera (970) FAQ
What engine does the first-generation Porsche Panamera GTS use?
The first-generation Panamera GTS (970) was produced 2012-2016. The 970.1 (2012-2013) used the naturally aspirated 4.8-litre M48.40 V8 rated at about 430 PS (~424 hp) and 384 lb-ft. The 970.2 facelift raised it to about 440 PS / 434 hp. Both drive all four wheels through a 7-speed PDK.
What was the significance of the Porsche Panamera when it launched?
The Panamera, launched in 2009, was Porsche’s first four-door sport saloon, extending the brand into a segment previously dominated by Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Like the Cayenne before it, the Panamera was initially criticised for straying from Porsche’s sports-car identity but proved commercially successful, funding further development across the range.
What is a first-generation Porsche Panamera GTS worth today?
The first-generation Panamera GTS (970) trades broadly, with Classic.com benchmark around the mid-$30,000s in 2025-2026 markets — representing heavy depreciation from its six-figure MSRP. Values reflect the discount typical of luxury four-door German sedans a decade past new.
How does the Panamera 970 Turbo differ from the GTS?
The Panamera Turbo uses a twin-turbocharged version of the 4.8-litre V8 producing about 500 hp (later 970.2 facelift Turbo rose to ~520 PS), versus the GTS’s 424-434 hp naturally aspirated. The Turbo reaches 60 mph in 3.8 seconds versus the GTS’s 4.3 seconds. A Turbo S variant sat above the Turbo as the true performance flagship in the range.
Can I buy or finance a first-generation Porsche Panamera through Studio Motors?
Yes. Specialist lenders can structure financing on these modern-classic four-door Porsches.
The Porsche Lineup
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911 Turbo (996) ’00911 GT2 (996) ’01Cayenne (955) ’02911 (997) ’04Boxster / Cayman (987) ’04Carrera GT ’04911 Turbo (997) ’06911 GT3 (997) ’06911 GT3 RS (997) ’06911 GT2 (997) ’07911 Sport Classic (997) ’09Panamera (970) ’09
911 GT2 RS (997) ’10911 Speedster (997) ’10Cayenne (958) ’10911 (991.1) ’11Boxster / Cayman (981) ’12911 Turbo (991) ’13911 GT3 (991) ’13918 Spyder ’13Macan (95B) ’14911 GT3 RS (991) ’15Cayman GT4 / Boxster Spyder (981) ’15911 (991.2) ’16911 R (991) ’16718 Cayman / Boxster (982) ’16911 GT2 RS (991) ’17Panamera (971) ’17Cayenne (9Y0) ’17911 Speedster (991) ’19911 (992.1) ’19718 Cayman GT4 / Spyder (982) ’19Taycan ’19
911 Turbo (992) ’20911 GT3 (992) ’21Cayenne Turbo GT (9Y0) ’21911 Dakar (992) ’22911 GT3 RS (992) ’22911 Sport Classic (992) ’22718 Cayman GT4 RS / Spyder RS (982) ’22911 S/T (992) ’23911 (992.2) ’24911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid (992.2) ’24Panamera (972) ’24Macan Electric ’24
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