2009-2013 (970)
The Panamera arrived as Porsche's first four-door model, introduced at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show and marking the brand's expansion beyond sports cars and SUVs into the luxury sport sedan segment. Built on a bespoke platform with a front-mounted engine and rear-biased layout, the 970-generation Panamera launched with the S, 4S, and Turbo, then expanded steadily over its production run to become one of the broadest model ranges Porsche had ever offered, spanning from an entry-level V6 all the way to a 550 hp twin-turbo flagship, plus Porsche's first hybrid sedan.
At launch, the Panamera S and 4S used a naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 producing 400 hp, offered in a choice of rear-wheel drive (S) or all-wheel drive (4S), while the range-topping Turbo used a twin-turbo version of the same engine for 500 hp. Porsche then rounded out the lineup for the 2011 model year, adding the entry-level Panamera and Panamera 4 with a 300 hp 3.6-liter V6, as well as the Panamera S Hybrid, the brand's first hybrid sedan, pairing a supercharged V6 with an electric motor for 380 hp combined. In 2012, the Turbo S joined as a new range-topper at 550 hp, and the GTS arrived for 2013 as a naturally aspirated, more driver-focused alternative to the turbocharged models, using a reworked version of the 4.8-liter V8 for 430 hp.
Across the lineup, all first-generation Panamera models used a liftback-style 4-door body, seating four rather than five, with adaptive air suspension, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and the Sport Chrono Package available as options across most trims. The manual transmission, offered on the base V6 models, was a rare touch in the segment and was dropped entirely with the 2014 facelift, which also brought new turbocharged V6 power to the S and 4S and plug-in capability to the hybrid, renamed the S E-Hybrid.
- Model years: 2009-2013 (first-generation, pre-facelift)
- Chassis: 970.1
- Engine range: 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 (300 hp) through 4.8L twin-turbo V8 (550 hp), plus a supercharged V6 hybrid powertrain (380 hp combined)
- Transmission: 6-speed manual (base models only) or 7-speed PDK dual-clutch, except the S Hybrid's dedicated 8-speed Tiptronic
- Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive (Panamera, S, GTS, S Hybrid) or all-wheel drive (Panamera 4, 4S, Turbo, Turbo S)
- Body style: 4-door sedan (liftback), 4-seat configuration
- Notable: Porsche's first four-door model and first hybrid sedan, lineup grew from 3 trims at launch to 8 by the end of the generation