Porsche Panamera Facelift Spied: Physical Buttons May Vanish, Hybrid GTS Expected

Porsche is currently testing the updated Panamera, with the latest prototypes recently spotted at the Nürburgring. Externally, the new model retains design cues first seen during earlier testing in Scandinavia, including redesigned headlights, a revised front bumper, and updated driver-assistance radar components. The overall camouflage pattern remains consistent with previous test vehicles. Significant changes are evident inside the cabin. The physical toggle switches currently used to control the climate system on the center console may be eliminated, replaced instead by an additional touchscreen. Combined with the existing digital instrument cluster, central infotainment screen, and the optional passenger-side display (mounted above the glovebox), the facelifted Panamera could feature up to four screens in total. Notably, no air vents appear above the central touchscreen, indicating that they will remain in their current position—below the screen—confirming that the interior layout won’t directly adopt the design of the all-new electric Cayenne. Two plug-in hybrid Panamera prototypes were observed at the test site, both featuring a charging port on the left side of the vehicle. One prototype was equipped with square-shaped exhaust tips, suggesting it could be the Turbo E-Hybrid or Turbo S E-Hybrid variant. The other featured quad round exhaust outlets—a configuration currently exclusive to the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid. However, details such as its front bumper design, daytime running light arrangement, and partially obscured rear diffuser area hint that this vehicle might actually be a GTS model. The current GTS is powered by a gasoline-only V8 engine; if this speculation proves correct, it would mark the first time the GTS receives a plug-in hybrid powertrain. In terms of powertrains, the current Panamera lineup offers several configurations: the base model uses a turbocharged V6 producing 348 hp (353 PS); the GTS features a 493 hp (500 PS) V8; and plug-in hybrid variants include the 463 hp (468 PS) Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and the 771 hp (782 PS) Turbo S E-Hybrid. Porsche has not yet announced official details regarding powertrain updates for the facelifted model; current assumptions are based solely on observed characteristics of the test vehicles. Pricing-wise, the current Panamera starts at approximately $113,000 (around RMB 766,000), with top-tier high-performance versions exceeding $240,000 (roughly RMB 1,628,000). The updated entry-level model is expected to carry a starting price close to $120,000 (approximately RMB 814,000).