What Makes a Grand Tourer? Panamera Turbo vs. DB11 vs. McLaren 570GT

If you asked me yesterday which Porsche was the brand’s greatest Grand Touring car, I would have said “928 GT.” In fact, I probably would have gotten more specific and said “928 GT in black with grey leather and dual zone AC.” Today, however, the nature of grand touring has changed. Traditional GT cars like the Aston Martin DB11 and Jaguar F-Type still exist, and in many ways they’re better than ever. Today they’re simply not the only vehicles which offer true Grand-touring abilities. Many supercars are truly usable vehicles now, rather than just unreliable showboats. If we’re going to stretch the definition to include supercars, why not go the other way entirely? Enter the Panamera Turbo.

Can a Sedan be a GT? Can a Supercar?

Very few people would ever consider cross-shopping the Panamera, DB11 and McLaren. Despite this, Henry Catchpole emphasizes that the three have more in common than people realize. On their own merits, each is a capable Grand Tourer in its own right. All three have space for at least two people and their luggage. All also offer compliant suspensions, willing engines, and seemingly boundless wells of performance.

Though the Panamera outweighs the already portly DB11 by four hundred pounds, it makes up for its girth with other merits. The Panamera offers true seating for four, the most luggage capacity of the three, and the strongest initial acceleration. Catchpole even notes that the Panamera’s initial turn-in is sharper than the McLaren. The Panamera’s performance was simply unthinkable thirty years ago, and it’s truly remarkable today. Do its merits make it a true Grand Tourer, however? Watch the video for a more in-depth look at how these three are similar, and the key areas where they differ.

The Porsche Panamera: Not just an economy car any more.