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I'm a huge Porsche fan but I don't like the Panamera. The exterior design just doesn't work for me. However, I bet if they can get a few people to actually sit in one they'll sell quite a few. The interior is incredible. The layout and quality of materials are fantastic. Moreover the spaciousness and usability of the interior space is absolute light years beyond what the other German car manufacturers or Maserati are offering in the high end sports sedan category. Plus... could Porsche have timed the launch of a new car line any worse??? Brutal.
A gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable total mass of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e including the weight of the vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight. The difference between gross weight and curb weight is the total passenger and cargo weight capacity of the vehicle. For example, a pickup truck with a curb weight of 4,500 pounds (2,041 kg) might have a cargo capacity of 2,000 pounds (907 kg), meaning it can have a gross weight of 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg) when fully loaded. For a Panamera 4S the numbers are (taken directly from Porsche website) Curb weight 4,101 lbs. Unladen weight (EG) GVWR Curb Weight 5,379 lbs.
might want to go again and re-read the definition of the GVW, why I say this ? since this is based off 4 passengers + luggage+full tank of fluids and depending weather or not a spare is included. unladen weight from the the site you mentioned might be a euro trim with out all of the safety items probably not even including all of the items as required or found standard on a US spec monstrosity. Say I will ***** if you can get Porsche to give you a one of their cars and put it on race scales and prove the weight on their site. um kay.
The definition I posted is from a well-known site and is the standard definition used in the automotive industry. This link will take you to Edmunds, illustrating the two numbers: Curb Weight: 3968 lbs. Gross Weight: 5302 lbs. (These are Panamera S specs. 4S and Turbo are heavier because of the 4WD system). http://www.edmunds.com/new/2010/porsche/panamera/101158932/specs.html Here is another, this time for a Jag XF. Two weights: Curb Weight: 4017 lbs. Gross Weight: 5004 lbs. http://www.edmunds.com/new/2010/jaguar/xf/101148035/specs.html Every vehicle has two specification weights. Curb and GVW. Unloaded, as it sits on the lot and maximum loaded. Generally, the industry quotes the unloaded curb weights as accepted weight of the vehicle. As illustrated above, one can see that automotive press use this standard. If one drills down to various articles and reviews on any vehicle, one would find curb weight to be quoted, not GVW (except usually in truck applications where GVW is an important specification). Obviously, every vehicle loaded would be heavier than unloaded. As the load would vary by user, the GVW number is not the one to focus on.
I'm a huge Porsche fan and was lucky enough to take part in a focus group on the Panamera a few years ago. I still don't really care too much for how the exterior of the car looks... the C pillar back is odd to me as are the rocker panels... but the interior is fantastic. And if you can get past the looks (some I know really like it), it drives like a dream. I've driven both the S and the Turbo and both cars are amazing. The power on the turbo is really something else all together and dare I say, perhaps too much for an every day road car. From 0-60 it's mind numbing but the way that car passes at highway speed is really awesome.
