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.

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…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more