All Porsche, all gorgeous

With the speed, accuracy and comfort of the Panamera you will hardly notice the differences from a standard Porsche. Photo / Peter Watkins/Split Image

Driving over half a million dollars worth of sports car around Australia seems an odd way to launch it, but there is a method to Porsche's madness.

For the Panamera is a four-door, four-seater oozing the brand's sporting persona, but also designed as a grand tourer.

Can it despatch 17,000km comfortably and reliably, yet deliver driving thrills when the road allows?

There's only one way to find out. We joined the three-car freight train, a $260,000 Panamera S, $350,000 Panamera Turbo, and a support Cayenne diesel laden with spare wheels and tyres, for the three-day, 1700km haul from Darwin to Alice Springs.

What's new?
The body and the concept. The engine is developed from the Cayenne's, albeit considerably reworked. The 4.8-litre V8 delivers 294kW and 500Nm in S format, or 368kW and 700Nm in twin-turbo form.

The base S is two-wheel drive or four, the Turbo a four-paw, with a seven-speed double clutch PDK transmission, auto stop-start, PASM active suspension management _ you name it, it's got it.

The company line
It's built a four-seater that's a true sports car to trump the Maserati and upcoming Aston Martin opposition.

What we say
Forget first impressions from photos. This car is all Porsche, and it's gorgeous.

Even the side view grows on you _ it's an automotive torpedo shaped for speed and aggression.

There are brain-popping moments, though, like reclining in rear seats almost as spacious and cosseting as a luxury sedan's and watching the person up front drive a Porsche.

On the road
These cars are astonishing. A 930km day ended with the drivers mentally tired _ but physically fresh. The 14-way adjustable front seats are superbly comfy, the cabin is beautifully built, surprisingly spacious, and speced to the max _ the Turbo's air-conditioned seats are especially appreciated in the up to 38C heat.

And both cars are mind-blowingly quick. Daly Waters was once a refuelling point for flights en-route to Europe. There's still a long, empty airstrip near the characterful pub.

Given such an opportunity to let rip, with gears and suspension set for sport, the Turbo tops out above 300km/h _ still handling as if on rails.

We had few opportunities to tackle corners on our leg, but suspect the cars' considerable weight will moderate their sporting ability _ not that you'll find out much at real-world speeds. Get a hustle on and even the livelier S tracks true, and its responsive rear-drive feel made it my favourite.

The four-paw Turbo is a stupendous achievement. Rock-solid at even eye-watering speeds. the very definition of driving as if on rails. But it's a tad inert where the S talks to you, moves beneath you in that interplay of road and car and pilot that brings the drive to life.

Why you'll buy one
You want a blisteringly quick luxury car for keen drivers _ the Turbo for its stonking speed, the S for its comparative liveliness.

Why you won't
A true Porsche, a true sports car with four doors? Yeah, right.