Competitor Showcase: The 2010 Porsche Panamera

When Porsche first announced that they were developing a four-door ultra-luxury sedan, few could have expected it to turn out quite as well as it did. Looking to all the world like a combination between a Cayenne and a 911, the 2010 Porsche Panamera (base MSRP $93,800) is a sleek and seductive foray into the rarefied air of the $100,000 sedan. The first four-door car ever built by the company, the Panamera boasts exceptional interior room and white-knuckle performance. The base S model’s 400 horsepower, 4.8-liter V-8 engine can launch the large automobile to 60 miles per hour in just 5.2 seconds, while the twin-turbocharged edition of the Panamera drops that number to 4.0 seconds via the judicious application of 500 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque through an all-wheel drive system. The S can also be ordered with all-wheel drive, and for all models Porsche’s PDK 7-speed automatic transmission acts as a referee between the engine and the tarmac.

Inside, the Panamera is awash in leather and wood trim, and the vehicle’s dazzling dash treatment helps to separate it from the sports cars in the company’s lineup and give it a dash of maturity and grace. All of the standard luxury gadgets and accommodations are present and accounted for, and Porsche fans will be instantly enamored of the cockpit’s low riding position.

While the 2010 Porsche Panamera is definitely an amazing performer, the entry of a new sedan at its lofty price point is like blood in the water for the high end sharks patrolling this segment of the market. This article takes a look at four other semi-exotic sports sedans you must drive before deciding the purchase the Panamera.

2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S – MSRP $133,700

The 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is the liveliest of the three different Quattroporte editions available from the Italian automaker. The luxury sedan looks like nothing else on the market thanks to its surging rear quarter panels and unique Maserati grille. 3 portholes accent the front fenders and the vehicle’s roofline suggests an extended coupe versus a traditional sedan. The Maserati’s interior is a subtle balance between sport and opulence, with interestingly sculpted leather seats gripping bodies into place while a unique TitanTex material made of aluminum and titanium fiber serves as trim. There are few options available on this well-equipped car, but buyers can choose to have different rims, a rear spoiler or aluminum pedal covers installed.

At the heart of the Quattroporte Sport GT S is a V-8 engine spawned from the same blueprints as those used by Ferrari to power their sports car dream machines. Displacing 4.7-liters, this motor produces 434 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque, and when pushed up past 7,000 rpm it produces a veritable symphony of exhaust sounds that is almost intoxicating. A 6-speed automatic transmission with both manual and launch controls helps the portly four-door leap to 60 miles per hour in just 5.1 seconds. Stiff springs and shocks control the Quattroporte through long corners and sudden elevation changes, and for the most part the vehicle is a joy to pilot at the limit.

Dynamically, the 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S cannot match the Porsche Panamera Turbo. However, in terms of ostentatious road presence and unmatched class with a healthy dollop of performance, the Quattroporte Sport GT S is an excellent option. The Ferrari heritage lurking in the engine bay is sure to score hefty bragging rights at the country club, concours event or class reunion.

2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG – MSRP $131,350

Mercedes-Benz have always been known for their luxurious, full-size sedans, but not everyone is familiar with just how fast and agile these leviathans can become with some assistance from in-house tuner AMG. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 isn’t the hottest edition of the venerable S-Class luxury car, but it does most closely match the Panamera in terms of price and power.

Visually, the S63 AMG differentiates itself from sedate versions of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship through the use of subtle yet unmistakable aero add-ons to the vehicle’s body. When taken together they create a very muscular impression, one which is enhanced by the sheer size and mass of the vehicle. The passenger compartment of the S63 AMG overwhelms driver and passengers alike with an incredible array of luxury features and comforts. Aside from the living room-like size of the interior accommodations, the vehicle also includes the COMAND interface system and a swiveling LCD display that keeps track of all vehicle functions and features. It is even possible to order a reclining rear seat that is also heated and ventilated.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG weighs almost 5,000 lbs, but this burden is hardly felt by the vehicle’s 6.3-liter V-8 engine. Capable of producing 518 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, the vehicle’s acceleration almost defies description. A 7-speed automatic transmission – not quite as sporty as the one found in the Maserati – is still capable of helping the vehicle reach 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds. Combined with the sedan’s upgraded suspension, the S63 AMG feels almost unstoppable on the highway and still very manageable during spirited driving on twisty roads.

Pricier than the Porsche but much closer to its performance neighborhood, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG is an under-the-radar cruise missile with sports car pretensions. The vehicle is perfect for both ferrying the family on a cross-country road trip and settling grudge matches down at the local drag strip.

2009 Bentley Arnage R – MSRP $224,990

With a price tag similar to that of a small house, the 2009 Bentley Arnage R is in a different class in terms of both cost and performance. However, it is instructive to take a close look at the vehicle which at one time defined the uber-high class performance sedan. In its final model year, the Bentley is a largely hand-built masterpiece of metal and leather and so displays a refinement not found in most other four-doors. Its interior trappings are more reminiscent of what one would expect in the belly of a yacht thanks to the use of the finest leathers and wood accents. Spacious and comfortable, the Bentley is a rolling bank vault when it comes to safety, road noise and overall experience. On the outside, the vehicle looks square and upright when parked next to the Porsche, although gentle tapering and smart use of curves allows it to seem regal and sporty at the same time.

However, getting past the extreme luxury content, in terms of power and handling the Bentley is in some ways comparable to the Panamera. This is particularly impressive given the huge weight difference between the cars, one which does not tip in favor of the Bentley. Its 6.75-liter V-8 engine avails itself of twin-turbochargers in order to produce 450 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to hit 60 miles per hour from a standing start in 5.5 seconds. A 6-speed automatic transmission channels all of that brute force to the rear wheels. The Bentley’s formidably stiff chassis and suspension manage to walk on eggshells in terms of comfort while still allowing the large sedan to feel crisp when put through its handling paces.

The 2009 Bentley Arnage R is a throwback to a different era in super sedan construction, one which eschewed much of the subtlety embodied in the Panamera in favor of regal good looks and brutal power. Its astronomical price reserves it almost exclusively for royalty and robber barons, but it has the capacity to keep a Porsche driver very busy should it appear in the rear view mirror.

2009 Audi S8 – MSRP $96,200

The 2009 Audi S8 adopts a somewhat different perspective than the other vehicles on this list of performance sedans. For one, it is the only one which features a V10 pilfered from the Lamborghini Gallardo. In the S8, the 5.2-liter unit is good for a very healthy 450 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. An additional difference is the presence of Quattro all-wheel drive, Audi’s celebrated traction-inducing add-on. The vehicle’s 6-speed automatic transmission sends the power to all four wheels with enough authority to accelerate the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in about 5.6 seconds. The S8 also features an adjustable air suspension that can be tuned for either comfort or performance, giving it a versatile ride and one which is uniquely adaptable to the situation at hand. Excellent brakes round out the performance package.

The 2009 Audi S8 lives up the to standard of luxury set by its A8 cousin. Dual climate controls, HID headlights, 20-inch wheels, parking assist and a power trunk are some of the goodies to be found waiting any lucky S8 buyer. The vehicle’s interior is cavernous and quite accommodating for even larger adults. A raft of active safety features such as a lane departure warning system, a blind spot detection system, and adaptive cruise control help to keep drivers out of harm’s way when piloting the sedan at supersonic speeds.

Although not as quick as the Panamera, nor as powerful as the Mercedes-Benz, the 2009 Audi S8 occupies a sort of middle ground between those who want a capable sedan but who aren’t interested in either the heroic driving exploits offered by the Porsche or the inflated output of the AMG.