I test drove the new Porsche Panamera recently. My other experience driving the Panamera was last year during the Media Driving Academy ((MDA) hosted by Porsche Asia-Pacific at Sepang International Circuit. That model I drove was the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid and of course, it was fun, accelerating like there’s no tomorrow at the Sepang International Circuit.

The one I test drove is the second generation of the Porsche Panamera. According to the press release, the new Porsche Panamera, is a sports car and luxury saloon in one. Its engines and transmission were re-engineered, the chassis perfected, the display and operating concept interpreted for the future with multitouch controls, and its design embodies core brand values even more.

Okay, I have to say I like the multitouch controls though it took me a while to figure out what’s what. But after, it’s pretty convenient and user friendly for both the driver and passenger.

First let me share with your some of the specs of the new Porsche Panamera.

Concept. Four-door sports car. The four-seat Gran Turismo concept combines the performance of a high-performance sports car with the comfort of a luxury saloon. The tailgate, folding rear seat backrests and up to 1,304 litres of luggage volume make the Panamera the most versatile model in its class. Yes, I actually put two medium size luggages with ease. I didn’t expect that it could fit.

Design and Body. New evolutionary stage of the Panamera concept. Expressively designed – with extended, dynamic proportions, flared shoulders, athletic anks and a much faster roof line. This “ flyline” which is typical of Porsche cars creates a stylistic link to the 911 design icon. Body in aluminium/steel hybrid construction: door panels, bonnet, boot lid, wings, side panels and roof all consist of aluminium.

Powertrain. A V6 Petrol engine with a displacement of 2.9 litres, delivering 243 kW (330 hp). New Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) with eight speeds and all-wheel drive for all models.

Chassis. Broad spread between performance and comfort sets standards in the luxury segment. New features include rear axle steering, three-chamber air suspension, the electromechanical roll stabilisation system Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport) with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) as well as networking of all chassis systems via 4D Chassis Control.

Electrics and Electronics. New Porsche Advanced Cockpit and state-of-the-art connectivity. Black panel surfaces and interactive displays combine the visuality and intuitive operation of smartphones with the practical aspects of controlling an automobile. New LED Matrix headlights and new assistance systems such as InnoDrive and Night Vision Assist (optional). This one is a clear winner. I totally agree that it’s quite intuitive.

Other features. Standard: 19-inch (4S and 4S Diesel) and 20-inch wheels (Turbo), LED head- lights and LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System (Turbo), LED rear lights, rain sensor, automatic boot lid, Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with online navigation and Porsche Connect Plus (online services and app networking with smartphone), Bose 150-watt sound system, key- less engine starting system, part-leather seats (4S and 4S Diesel) or all-leather upholstery (Turbo).

The new Porsche Panamera, now available for test drive

Such a comfort feeling. Only thing is that I have to keep adjusting the seat to the front whenever I enter the Panamera.

How the interior looks at night

Driving down to Kuala Beliat was such a breeze in the Panamera

How I wish I could drive this for a lifetime

My thoughts. There’s something unique about the Porsche Panamera because if you look closely at the design flow of the latest Panamera, it does resembles that of the iconic Porsche 911. Speaking of 911, my favourite Porsche model is the 911 GT3. Now back to the Panamera. This is perhaps the most comfortable luxury segment saloon for both driver and passengers. Firstly it’s spacious.. Yes, very, very spacious for a space of four people. The interior itself are luxurious to say the least.

Let’s talk about the Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment. I like the fact that there is a 10-inch touchscreen located in the centre for the convenient of back seat passengers. The sound of the Rear Seat Entertainment is played back via the loudspeakers integrated into the touchscreens, the vehicle’s sound system. rear passengers can access the radio. The screens can also be used to display vehicle data and the current navigation route with related supplemental information. It is even possible to input destinations for the PCM’s navigation system via the Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment system. The functional range is also signicantly extended by giving rear passengers access to all products available at the Google® Play Store. The Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment system can be controlled by touchscreens or alternatively from the PCM.

Now the driving experience. It’s not just spacious but the new Panamera packs a power. It’s stable during roundabouts and corners even at higher speed. The transition between the gears in the Panamera’s eight-speed gearbox seemed seamless and smooth.

I took it for a spin from Bandar to Kuala Belait and I can assure if you for those who commutes from those points, you will eventually love driving back and forth. It is just simply comfortable and it’s a breeze, driving in the Panamera. Just have to be mindful to check your speedometer that you might exceed the speed limit because you won’t even feel how fast the Panamera can go.

For those interested in the new Porsche Panamera, there are many options to choose from such as optional Night Vision Assist and Innodrive. You can also opt for other models in the Panamera such as the Panamera Turbo or the Panamera 4S. You can contact Porsche Centre Brunei, QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd if you’re interested for a test drive of the new Porsche Panamera.

Such a spacious booth for a Panamera. I could fit two medium sized luggages.

The Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment

Just look at that space

I love driving in sports mode but it does eat up petrol quicker than usual

Sound system powered by Bose

Group photo with all the media representatives hosted by Porsche Asia-Pacific for the Media Driving Academy at Sepang International Circuit earlier this July

A photo opp with the newly launched Porsche 911 GT2RS

Last year, I had the privilege to attend the Media Driving Academy (MDA) hosted by Porsche Asia-Pacific. They consisted of three courses – Individual, Professional and Elite. As for last year, I entered the Individual course which is the basic course among the lot. It was definitely fun. Why? Because it’s the only time we can break the rules in terms of speeding on the road and it was conducted at the Sepang International Circuit, ideal for racers.

Fast forward to this year (July 2018), I was invited again by Porsche Asia-Pacific where I completed the other two courses – Professional and Elite earlier this month. I met familiar faces especially from the international media representatives in Asia-Pacific.

There were two main highlights for me – the launch of the Porsche GT2RS and the driving experience of the Porsche GT3.

Firstly, the Porsche GT2RS. Wow, wow, wow!!!! A beast among beast, this is a collectors item for Porsche lovers. Car and Driver even labeled it as the chainsaw of the 911 line-up. It has a 700 horse power twin-turbo engine. The previous GT2 model has a hp of 620 so there is definitely a difference. You can tell that the GT2RS is built for speed. The price tag alone is quite high. You’re talking about RM 1.3 million itself in Malaysia. Apparently there’s a Porsche GT2RS on the road in Brunei. Amazing!! Sadly, the GT2RS is only for display for the media and not for a test drive.

Of course, the main highlight of the MDA was test driving the newer editions of the Porsche finest models – 911 GT3 (me likes), 718 Cayman GTS and the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid on the SIC race track.

The favourite among the lot for me is the 911 GT3 – simply awesome and it has a mind of its own. I truly love the handling at high speed as well as the braking. It just gives me more assurance to drive safer especially on the race track.

The instructors were very helpful too and our group (Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia) was lucky to have William Bamber, brother of Earl Bamber, an accomplished race car driver, who competes for Porsche Motorsport. The hospitality was top notch to begin with and the goodies were awesome too – Adidas racing boots and a racing helmet for completing both Professional and Elite courses.

After all the experiences, I truly understand how magnificent Porsche are in terms of handling, speed and safety. We were given tasks such as the Slolam, the Moose, the Braking and many more. I enjoyed the Slolam one as we did a time lapse for every driver to see who was the fastest.

The second day was much more interesting as we learnt the tracks of the SIC race track from start to finish. I realised how awesome Porsche are on the road. Expensive but you will know where the money is spent on. Unfortunately, in Brunei, it’s not something we can take advantage when we have a monster of a car like Porsche because of the driving laws and also the conditions of our roads in Brunei.

Soon, some selected customers will be having their own session organised by Porsche (Brunei) in early August for the upcoming Porsche Driving Experience at Sepang. I hope they have the same experience as I did and it’s also a great way to showcase what a Porsche can do.

Will I own a Porsche? If the money and timing are right, why not? 😉

Just look at that convoy

My favourite car during MDA experience

Did you realize that the driver side is on the left? Yes, all the Porsche are imported from Europe.

The lead car was always the Porsche GT3

Listening to advices by the instructors at some of the activities

Receiving a pair of Adidas racing boots 😉

These boots are made for racing 😀

Learning how to handle around corners and bends

We had some physical exercises as well. Did you know that racing also involves a good physique such as your hand, neck and body?

Receiving a souvenir from the organiser 😀

Izam Said and I had fun during the Media Driving Academy (MDA) hosted by Porsche earlier this month. Thank you QAF Eurokars for inviting us

Journalists from Asia Pacific had a good experience on the track

Porsche Asia Pacific announced recently the start of the highly anticipated Media Driving Academy (MDA) in Sepang, Malaysia, now in its third iteration. This year’s event, took place from 4th to 6th July 2017, gave Asia Pacific journalists the very first opportunity to drive the new Panamera Turbo and Panamera 4S on the racetrack, among a fleet of other Porsche cars. The Cayman GT4 Clubsport, a 283 kW (385 hp) mid-engined racer for motorsport newcomers, were also available for hot laps for the first time at the MDA. Well, hot laps meaning you get be driven by the driving instructors/professionals on full speed on the Sepang Circuit. The lucky ones also had the opportunity to be driven by Earl Bamber, a Le Mans champion driver for Porsche in 2017. Awesome!!!

First launched in 2015 at Bira Circuit, Pattaya, Thailand, the MDA allows media to experience the maximum performance of Porsche cars through consecutive courses designed to sharpen driving skills in a safe environment with world-class Porsche instructors. Journalists from 10 countries across the Asia Pacific region will participate in one of three courses – Individual, Professional or Elite. In addition to activities on the track, participants will experience theory workshops, including a motorsports conditioning session, driving physics workshop and a Q&A with Porsche certified instructors. My Brunei entourage were Yursin Junaidi (Media Permata), Izam Said (Motoring BN) and I who attended the Individual category (entry level) while Aziz Idris of Borneo Bulletin had the privilege to be in the “Professional” category.

Following his win driving the Porsche 919 Hybrid at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s longest-running endurance race, Earl Bamber will work with Elite and Individual course participants, and provide a taste of a day in the life of a Porsche LMP1 driver. Plus he is an awesome lad and down to earth.

Earl Bamber added: “Coming fresh off the 24 Hours of Le Mans and into the Media Driving Academy at Sepang, I am thrilled that I can share with journalists what an incredible experience it was. It is my second win at the legendary race and what can I say, I am still letting it sink in! I also had immense fun giving hot laps in the Cayman GT4 Clubsport and the road cars – Porsche truly has motorsports in its blood, and it shows in every one of its cars, including the new Panamera!”

So what’s my favourite Porsche after this experience? The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S if I’m not mistaken.

Members of the public interested in experiencing Porsche cars on the track can sign up to the Porsche Driving Experience at Sepang. For further information visit: http://www.porsche.com/driving-experience-asia-pacific

It feels like an award but it isn’t. Just love the plaque *lol*

The briefing before the driving experience at Sepang International Circuit

Yusrin was my driving partner for the day

I love this ride too

Earl Bamber checking on us before driving

The modified Porsche GTS meant for racing

Our evening dinner before the event

Great hospitality 😀 Thank you

Claire Jedrek the host interviewing Earl Bamber during dinner