By Christopher Tan in Munich, Germany

It packs 400 to 500bhp worth of grunt, accomplishes the century sprint as speedily as four seconds and is wide and low like a proper racer - complete with sporty one-piece seats and a convincing rear spoiler.

At the same time, it has electronic self-release parking brakes, adaptive cruise control that works in crawling traffic, an earth-friendly engine stop-start function and a sizeable boot.

Such a combination might come across as schizophrenic in other cars. But in the Panamera, Porsche's first saloon, it is sweet compromise.

A melding of yin and yang qualities that results in a very fast grand tourer with roomy accommodation for four.

This is not obvious from 30 paces. Or even three. The car appears more compact than its 4,970mm length suggests. Perhaps the optical impression is influenced by an extraordinary width (1,931mm ex-mirrors) and a chest-high roof (1,418mm).

The styling aids in the illusion. The profile is sleek and Carrera-esque, with large 19-inch wheels at far ends of the car. Beautifully executed, except for an abrupt rear that remotely resembles the Chrysler Crossfire's flat butt.

Revelation comes when you get inside. The interior is luxuriously appointed - the best among Porsches and on par with the better limos in the business.

Its most distinguishing feature is the centre console, which houses a modern shift gate flanked by a symmetrical arrangement of chrome-lined controls. More than a touch of Nokia's top-end Vertu phone.

Space is quite adequate, with headroom and legroom no one below 2m will complain about. This is thanks to the car's 2,920mm wheelbase (more than what the new Mercedes E-class offers) and those semi-bucket seats.

These electrically adjustable seats bring occupants closer to the ground, which offers a) kart-like seating, and b) all-round roominess as a big bonus.

While much more padded than out-and-out sports seats, they are good for up to 300km or so. Without adjustable headrests, fatigue invariably sets in.

The obviously dynamic nature of the Panamera also means rear occupants are never in as good a position as those in front - especially on serpentine roads - even if the blistering pace is smoothened by Porsche's PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Wind noise also tends to intrude a little from the C-pillar at around 110kmh.

The pilot has the most enviable spot. He gets a cockpit that makes driving a five-star experience.

The Panamera's well-assisted steering is light but unfailingly precise. The car's tracking is nothing less than astounding, with a chassis that serves up high-speed stability with aplomb.

At more than 200kmh, the car feels surefooted and relatively relaxed. At one stretch of the autobahn, the tarmac dips briefly and suddenly. But the four-door Porsche sails over it without any steering correction - at over 250kmh.

The 400bhp Panamera S needs a lot of road to get to this velocity, but is otherwise almost as effortless as the monumental Turbo. Clearly, the less powerful car is more than sufficient for Singapore and Malaysia.

And in urban traffic, the car's adaptive cruise control is simply wonderful. It works at walking pace, and even brings the car to a complete halt. Stepping on the accelerator resumes progress.

Should you choose to use the brakes yourself, the Panamera will shut off its engine to save fuel and cut idling emissions. It starts up quietly when you lift your foot off the pedal.

 It is the first dual-clutch transmission car to have this green feature.

It is also one of very few cars which comes close to achieving consumption figures declared in its brochure. Even when driven maniacally over Bavaria's scenic mountain roads and on unrestricted spans of the autobahn, the Panamera S uses just a tad over 11 litres for 100km.

Pretty amazing for a 4.8-litre V8 hauling 1.8 tonnes of metal.

One more thing that is somewhat uncharacteristic of Porsches: a V8 boom that is suitably stirring outside, but surprisingly hushed in the cabin.

In place of the mechanical music, Porsche offers a superb hi-fi system. The Turbo car's stereo is tailor-made by Burmester, a high-end German audio brand.

It features 1,000 watts of music handled by 16 speakers and an earth-moving subwoofer. I have never seen the point of lavish hi-fi in a sporty car until now. Burmester is expected to be a $10,000 option here in Singapore. But with it, whatever little wind noise becomes irrelevant.

There are other cars which combine brawn and pageantry, such as Audi's S8, Jaguar's R range, BMW'sM cars and Mercedes' AMG models. But the Panamera's blend of features and brand appeal make it a unique proposition. One that is both familiar and refreshing.

christan@sph.com.sg

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