2017 Geneva Motor Show: Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo unveiled

IT’S taken almost a year to get here, but Porsche has finally announced its pooch-friendly version of the Porsche Panamera coupe – the brand’s first-ever wagon built off a sedan body – is ready for the world.

The Panamera Sport Turismo is a fastback-booted version of the large coupe offering a large tailgate, low loading height, increased luggage space. It also has the ability to transport up to five passengers, even if Porsche describes it as a “4+1” seating concept: you can opt for a four-seat version with electronically adjusting pews if the body count doesn’t matter.

“From a technological and design perspective, the Sport Turismo takes all the innovations introduced with the brand new Panamera saloon,” Porsche says. “These include the digital Porsche Advanced Cockpit, pioneering assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, chassis systems such as rear axle steering, the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC Sport) electronic roll stabilisation system and powerful powertrains.”

Due on sale here from November, the Sport Turismo will carry about a $15,000 premium over the saloon version. That means the entry-level Panamera 4 Sport Turismo will price from $232,800.

Other models in the line-up include the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid ($255,800), 4S ($318,100), 4S Diesel ($325,900) and the range-topping 404kW Turbo ($391,000).

All the Sport Turismo models sold here will come with Porsche’s active all-wheel-drive system and adaptive air suspension.

At 5049mm, the Sport Turismo is just as long as the sedan, is just as wide, and sits on the same wheelbase. It’s only slightly higher, and features unique sheetmetal from the B-pillar back.

An active spoiler is integrated into the trailing edge of the sloping roofline. Porsche says its angle rakes through three stages depending on the driving situation and selected vehicle settings, and generates up to 50kg of downforce over the rear axle. It only deploys at a licence-smoking 170km/h unless activated manually. It will also tip up to 26 degrees when the sunroof is open to help minimise wind noise.

The boot space increases to 520 litres over the saloon’s 500-litre capacity (the battery pack for the E-Hybrid reduces this to 425 litres), expanding to 1390 litres when the rear seats – they have a 60:40 split-fold function in the three-seater version – are stowed (1295 litres for the hybrid).

If you want, a powerpoint to charge a laptop or run an espresso machine is available for the boot space.

The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo will be officially unveiled at next week’s Geneva Motor Show.