The Panamera debuted at the 13th Auto Shanghai International Automobile Show in April 2009,[4] later launching hybrid and diesel versions in 2011.

In April 2013, the company introduced a facelifted model, again at the Shanghai Auto Show,[5] followed by the US introduction of a plug-in hybrid version, the Panamera S E-Hybrid, in November 2013.

As a front-engine, full-size, four-passenger, four-door luxury hatchback weighing nearly 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg), the Panamera runs contrary to the company's historically lightweight two-door, rear-engine sports cars, notably the 911.

Being derived from the V8 engine of the Panamera S and Panamera 4S, the V6 retains the V8's technologies like Direct Fuel Injection, infinitely variable intake camshaft adjustment with variable valve lift (VarioCam Plus), an on-demand oil pump, water cooling with thermal management, a variable intake manifold, as well as integrated dry sump lubrication with two-stage extraction of oil, and an Auto Start-Stop function (only with the PDK transmission).

Roll-on acceleration should be more impressive, changes to the PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) gearbox allow for faster gearshifts, and the alleged 27.7mpg fuel economy is no worse than the less powerful Panamera Turbo.

The Panamera S Hybrid produced only 193 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, rendering it the most environment friendly car in the then entire Porsche model range,[32] while still maintaining a top speed of 167.8 mph (270 km/h).

[37] It included more standard equipment, larger wheels, and an exclusive interior leather combination of luxor beige and black.

It was offered with rear and all wheel drive layouts, and had a 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration time of under 5.8 seconds or faster on all variants.

The finalizing touch to this special edition included an exclusive set of 19-inch Panamera Turbo alloy wheels with the red, black, and gold Porsche crest.

The car is based on the base Panamera and includes high-gloss black trim strips outline the windows, 19-inch Panamera Turbo wheels with coloured centre caps, the sills were inscribed with the word "Edition," and body-coloured door handles were an additional add on when the customer chose the Porsche Entry & Drive option.

The plug-in electric hybrid had a 9.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack capable of delivering a range of more than 32 km (20 mi) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard.

[41][42] In November 2013, the UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) approved the eligibility of the Panamera S E-Hybrid for the Plug-in Car Grant which entitles customers to a maximum purchase subsidy of £5,000 (~ US$8,000).

The interior features a redesigned dashboard layout, with touch-sensitive surfaces replacing the previous generation's array of buttons.

The second generation includes two seven-inch displays in place of the dials, as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen featuring online sat-nav, Apple CarPlay integration and an updated voice control system.

The automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport discovered the higher than permittable amount, which is one-and-half times more than legal limit, during the exhaust testing.

[60] The Panamera Sport Turismo debuted in March 2017 at the Geneva Motor Show, and was available with the same engine range as the 4-door car.

[68][72] The active suspension is designed to stabilize the body under dynamic conditions, such as resisting lean in corners and weight transfer during acceleration and deceleration.

[72] Despite the differences in dimensions and design, a reviewer noted that the Panamera's driving dynamics were close to that of the 911, and it "seems to occupy the no-man's-land between really good sports sedans and proper sports cars", and so far the Panamera has won some comparison tests against other four-door performance cars on the market such as the Maserati Quattroporte and Aston Martin Rapide.

[74][75] Function was also praised, with the 15.7 cubic feet (440 L) hatchback trunk, and the four-corner adaptive air suspension that retained superior handling while also providing a comfortable ride for public roads.

[79] The 30 November 2008 edition of BBC's Top Gear featured a look at the Panamera in its news section, with the three presenters being very critical of the look.

[80] Sales by cities: Los Angeles (890), New York (760), Hong Kong (300), Dubai (285), Tokyo (223), Munich (206), Moscow (203), Shanghai (188), Hamburg (117) and Berlin (108).

[88] One of the highlights of the Panamera's debut was fitting the car in the freight elevator of the Shanghai World Financial Center and sending it to the skyscraper's 94th floor.

[89] An estate version concept of the Panamera was introduced at the 2012 Paris Motor Show called Sport Turismo.

As opposed to the current production system, this e-Hybrid setup prioritizes all-electric motivation unless the driver instructs the car otherwise.

The Sport Turismo is technically a plug-in hybrid since the lithium-ion battery pack can be fully charged in as little as 2.5 hours when plugged into a wall outlet.