Porsche has shown off what the interior of the forthcoming Panamera gen-three (G3) luxury saloon will look like, with the interface clearly taking heavy inspiration from the electric Taycan.
Taycan used as template
Set to be revealed to the world fully on November 24, the G3 Panamera is important for Porsche. It will continue alongside the Taycan for the foreseeable future, but it's clear that the EV has already stolen some potential customers from the Panamera.
To that end, Porsche clearly feels that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so the G3 Panamera will gain what is called the 'Porsche Driver Experience'. This basically means a screen-heavy layout, with a focus on the driver as the centre of attention.
As in the Taycan, the Panamera kicks off with a freestanding digital instrument cluster. It's slightly smaller in the Panamera than it is in the Taycan (12.6 versus 16.8 inches across the diagonal) but it remains an eye-catching display, and one which has already been adopted by the Cayenne SUV during its recent facelift.
The cluster mimics the look of Porsche's analogue dial packs of the past, arranging its information into three key areas, but - as is tradition with the German manufacturer - the rev counter takes pride of place in the centre of the screen. Customers can choose to augment their digital information levels with an optional head-up display too.
In the centre of the dashboard sits the 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system. This is neatly integrated into a wide-ranging fascia that flows continuously into the door cars, while - for the first time in a Panamera - this time around Porsche will equip the car with full-width ambient lighting to emphasise this feature.
Finless air vents and a dash-mounted gear selector
That PCM display sits at the top of a centre stack which also features another Taycan technology, namely finless air vents. Instead of physical plastic to control the direction of the flow of air into the passenger compartment, in the G3 Panamera these are electrically controlled using motors deep within the air vents' housings.
Beneath that is a separate, dedicated climate control panel that's a mix of touch-sensitive pads and physical buttons, while the steeply raked central console is not just a Panamera trait, it's also more useful in the G3. This is because the gear lever has shifted up onto the main fascia, next to the steering wheel - again, echoing both the Taycan and the revised Cayenne - so there's more space in the central storage bin of the Panamera.
Vegan interior an option
The final technological touch is the 10.9-inch Passenger Display, and we know we're sounding like a stuck record here but yep, this is something which was first seen in the Taycan and has since been adopted by the Cayenne too. Anyway, it's an option on the G3 Panamera and, even when it's in use, the driver can't see any of the information shown on it as a safety feature to prevent distraction.
Beyond the high-tech showmanship of the new Panamera, there are also said to be the highest of quality materials used for the vehicle, as well as more comfortable seats thanks to improved foam packing for their innards. And while leather upholstery will continue to be offered, Porsche is thinking of all customers' sensibilities by providing an optional leather-free cabin. This will use Race-Tex synthetic microfibre and Pepita fabric in its make-up.