Before the unveiling of the 2021 Panamera, Porsche built up the hype by announcing that the Turbo S variant is the fastest luxury car (or to be specific, “executive” car) on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
The facelifted Porsche model completed the full circuit length of 20.832 km (12.944 miles), which has been mandatory for automakers since 2019, in 7:29.81, while the slightly shorter version of the track that measures 20.6 km (12.8 miles), was passed after 7:25.04 minutes.
Video: Watch The 2021 Porsche Panamera Turbo Lap The Nurburgring Nordschleife In 7:29.81
The previous king of the ‘Ring, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic+, completed the shorter version of the track in 7:25.41 two years ago, while we now learn that the the longer 20.8 km course was actually completed in 7:30.109.
“Since 2019, the Nürburgring has required that all manufacturers complete the entirety of the nearly 13-mile track for a lap time to be recognized. Prior to that, the old track entrance was considered the end of the lap, leaving roughly 650 feet (200 m) between the historical endpoint and the actual start/finish line,” Mercedes-Benz USA spokesperson, Baron Smith, clarified about the two different posted times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYiKjZkmQPA
This makes the Panamera just a few tenths of a second faster than the Merc’, so the brand from Affalterbach announced that “maybe it’s high time to hit the track again” in the caption of the video, which shows the GT 63 S on the longer course.
With 630 HP (639 PS / 470 kW) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) produced by the 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8, the GT 63 S has the output and torque on its side, as the Panamera Turbo S’ twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 kicks out only 621 HP (630 PS / 463 kW) and 605 lb-ft (820 Nm). The Porsche does the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.1 seconds, with a 196 mph (315 km/h) top speed, and the AMG is one tenth of a second slower and tops out at 195 mph (314 km/h).
This should be an interesting fight, one that Mercedes seems eager to give.