Some of us drive out of necessity, others drive for a living; some of us drive for the sheer joy, others for the sport, the thrills and spills.

But all of us - assuming that we share a mutual love of great motor vehicles and the open road - would surely relish the chance to drive the best car out there.

The car that delivers maximum in terms of fizz, sophistication and excitement. And so, may I proudly present the new Porsche Panamera.

The Panamera is defined on the world wide web as a “four-door sports car of elegance with high-performance capabilities and advanced technological features.” And while that assessment is pretty much on the money, it simply doesn’t do justice to what is a truly incredible machine. The third model generation is just out of the blocks - a fresh look at a globally recognised luxury saloon with the emphasis on dynamism, comfort and sport.

I was handed the keys to the Panamera 4, an all-wheel drive petrol powerhouse capable of eye-watering performance. Engineering modifications have boosted pressure, fuel injection flow rate and ignition timing so that the 2.9-litre V6 turbo engine can now generate 500Nm of torque. It races from 0-62mph in just 5 seconds and has a top speed of 167mph. No messing about here folks, these are serious statistics.

The new profile is enhanced by an updated operating concept and numerous innovative technologies. These include the new Porsche Active Ride Suspension, which combines a significantly higher level of comfort with the sporty driving characteristics that are so typical of Porsche. The integration of a digital ecosystem into the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system offers extra ways to interact and there is an astonishing range of driver assistance systems.

The new Panamera has a superior feel, much of it down to the state-of-the-art adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management. The suspension noticeably dampens impacts from damaged road surfaces, while also ensuring more body stability. It absorbs bumps and potholes almost completely and actually leans inwards into corners like a motorcycle. It also pulls the front down when accelerating and the rear when decelerating. When stationary, the Porsche Active Ride Suspension system lifts the body to a comfortable height for ease of entry and exit. This latest variant retains the characteristics and proportions of the model line and is a big unit by any standards; close on 17 feet long and 6 feet wide.

Once inside, the Porsche Driver Experience cockpit concept strikes an ideal balance between digital and analogue control elements and everything is designed to make driving not just a pleasure but as easy and enjoyable as possible. The selector lever is directly to the right of the steering wheel and the mode control for the Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving programmes as well as the assistance control stalks are also directly accessible.

Never do you have to take your eyes off the road to activate changes and make choices and a passenger display closely integrates your ‘co-driver’ into the driving experience. The 10.9-inch screen displays vehicle performance data on request. It also allows operation of the infotainment system and supports video streaming while the car is running. To avoid any possible chance of distraction, the passenger display cannot be seen from the driver’s seat.

As for overall vehicle equipment, the list is packed with high-end features, most of them included as standard.

Apologies but can’t find room to mention them all so here are a few highlights:-

Panoramic roof system, 21-inch SportDesign wheels, Porsche crest on headrests, comfort seats (14-way electric) with memory package, heated GT Sports steering wheel, BOSE Surround Sound, acoustically insulated laminated privacy glass, head-up display, soft-close doors, surround view with Active Parking Support, Lane Change Assist, Matrix LED headlights, exterior mirrors and side window trims in high-gloss black, sports tailpipes in dark bronze and so it goes on…….

The Active Speed Assistant interacts with traffic sign recognition. If the system is active, the Panamera will not automatically drive faster than the appropriate speed limit. The Porsche InnoDrive including adaptive cruise control also features active lane guidance and junction assist. A swerve assistant is now also part of the range of functions. If that’s not enough, you don’t even have to be in the car during automatic parking as the whole parking process can be monitored from your smartphone.

In summary, the new Porsche Panamera is a collection of highlights and surprises, of style, sport and substance.

Is it the best car out there? It’s definitely right up there … go along and judge for yourself.

Article courtesy of Live Ribble Valley Magazine, written by Paul Agnew