Skip to main content

TechArt shows a Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo that swallowed a rally car

This year’s edition of the annual Geneva Auto Show is right around the corner. Head-turning concept cars and the newest production models always steal the show, but the event wouldn’t be complete without a wide selection of aftermarket companies showcasing their widest, lowest, and wildest products. German tuner TechArt is heading to Geneva with a highly modified Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo in tow.

Recommended Videos

Named GrandGT, the super-wagon takes the form of a Panamera Sport Turismo that looks like it swallowed a Group B rally car from the 1980s. The only body panel that hasn’t been modified is the roof. Looking at the front end, we see a deeper bumper that incorporates wide air scoops which help keep the temperature in check in the engine bay. TechArt also added flared fenders to accommodate wider wheels and a scalloped hood. The back end now wears a wide air diffuser flanked by two pairs of exhaust tips, a roof-mounted spoiler, and flares that match the ones up front. Most of the add-ons are made out of carbon fiber to keep weight in check.

The interior is lavish in its own way. Step inside and you’ll find saddle brown leather upholstery on virtually every surface with the exception of the door pillars and the headliner; they get black Alcantara. Green, orange, and black stitching gives the upholstery a tartan-like look. You’ll love it and want it or you’ll hate it and prefer the stock interior, but at least it’s original and more tasteful than what we’re used to seeing from the aftermarket.

The hood hides something everyone can agree on: lots of power. The GrandGT started life as a Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo. Fully stock, it comes with a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 engine that makes 550 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque. It still has the V8, but TechArt bumped its output to 631 hp and 664 lb-ft. of torque, according to Motor Authority. The Sport Turismo is now capable of achieving the benchmark zero-to-60-mph sprint in 3.4 seconds before going on to a top speed of about 200 mph.

The visual upgrades and the mechanical tweaks aren’t part of an all-in-one package deal. If you already own a Panamera, TechArt can add the body kit and leave the engine alone or vice versa. Of course, you can also work directly with the company to create a one-of-a-kind car — provided you can foot the bill. Pricing information hasn’t been released yet, but keep in mind the Panamera Sport Turismo starts at $154,000.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?
Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Read more
EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says
ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.

Read more
Trump team in sync with Tesla on ending crash-reporting requirements, report says
Beta of Tesla's FSD in a car.

The transition team of President-elect Donald Trump is planning to end existing car-crash reporting requirements to safety regulators, according to a Reuters report.

The report cites a document obtained by Reuters that lays out the transition team’s 100-day strategy for automotive policy. In the document, the team says the crash-reporting requirement leads to “excessive” data collection, Reuters says.

Read more