Porsche has used its new third-generation Panamera to set a new lap record around the notorious Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany.
Ahead of the new model’s launch, Porsche test driver Lars Kern took to the 12.944-mile track in the 680hp Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid.
A lap time of 7min 24.17sec means the new Panamera can claim the – slightly tenuous-sounding – ‘Ring record for a luxury car with a combustion engine and hybrid power.
Quicker than a Zonda
For Lars Kern, setting the new record was business as usual. The German driver has claimed two previous class-best lap times around the Nordschleife, most recently with the second-generation Porsche Panamera Turbo in 2020.
The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid was 5.64 seconds faster around the challenging course than its predecessor.
The new lap time also makes the new Panamera officially faster than some supercars, including the Pagani Zonda F Clubsport and Maserati MC12, along with beating the Nissan GT-R.
Notably, the Panamera is not Porsche’s quickest four-door model around the Nurburgring. That honour goes to the fully electric Taycan Turbo GT, which lapped the Nordschleife in 7min 7.55sec earlier this year.
From the ‘Ring to the road
For the timed run, the Panamera was equipped with a full roll cage and a racing bucket seat. A set of grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres was fitted. The Porsche also wore the optional carbon fibre aero kit.
The latter includes a special Gurney flap fitted to the adaptive rear spoiler, which helps generate additional downforce at high speeds.
“On the Nordschleife, the transverse dynamic capabilities of a car are particularly important,” said Kern after the record run.
“The new Panamera has made significant gains in this area. In technically demanding corner sequences in particular, such as between the Hohe Acht and Brunnchen sections of the track, it responds with noticeably greater agility.”
For those looking to attempt their own Nurburgring lap time, the Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid is available to order now, priced from £145,400.