Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo: a big GT that rumbles, the exhaust system guide

The 4.0 twin-turbo V8: the power behind the Panamera 971 grand tourer

The Panamera 971 gets a 4.0-litre V8 whose two turbos are nestled between the cylinder banks, for a shorter gas path and a sharper response. It produces 460 hp and 620 Nm in its most accessible version, more in the most powerful versions, always with generous torque that arrives very early. Combined with all-wheel drive, it makes this large saloon an astonishingly effective car.

On a V8 of this calibre, the exhaust shapes the car's character as much as its performance. The Panamera's factory exhaust polishes everything, to the point of making you forget what is turning under the bonnet. With the Rog valved exhaust, you decide: with the valves open, the V8 asserts its presence; with the valves closed, you get back the serenity of a great grand tourer.

What makes up the exhaust on your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo

An exhaust system is best understood in two parts. Here is what each one does, and what Rog replaces.

The figures for your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo

On a modern car, an exhaust system first changes the voice, the breathing and the weight at the rear. Power, on the other hand, comes from an ECU remap.

Published manufacturer and Stage 2 figures. Factory figures vary by version; Stage 2 published for the 550 hp version.

Our exhaust systems work perfectly with or without an ECU remap. On your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo, however, we recommend having one done at an approved tuning centre: that is what lets the engine reach its full potential.

The Panamera's V8 also powers far more potent versions: with its two turbos, it therefore keeps serious headroom that a Stage 2 remap exploits. The result depends on the starting version, the condition of the car and the tuner. The Rog exhaust is the logical complement to this kind of tuning.

Configuring your exhaust, step by step

4 choices, in the same order as the product page configurator.

1. 1

   Step 1 of 4: Material: stainless steel or titanium

   Titanium costs more than stainless steel; the price of each version is shown on the product page, in your currency.

   304 stainless steel

   Weight

   Baseline

   Sound

   Full and rounded

   The benchmark for high-end exhausts: tough, corrosion-proof, with a full, rounded sound. The choice of most of our customers.

   Titanium

   Weight

   Around 40% lighter

   Sound

   Metallic, crystal-clear

   Around 40% lighter than stainless steel for the same design, with a more metallic sound that turns crystal-clear at high revs. Its finish ranges from brushed to blued tints.

   Over time, both hold up: 304 stainless steel stands up to winter salt and damp, and titanium does not rust. Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes.

2. 2

   Step 2 of 4: Front section: downpipe and catalytic converter

   Optional: the downpipe on your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo, with its catalytic converter. Sound intensity is rated on our scale of 0 to 10, valves open; the factory exhaust scores 3.

   Cat-back only

   Included

   7/10

   Factory emissions control

   The factory catalytic converter stays in place. The starting point and, for many of our customers, more than enough.

   200-cell sports catalytic converter

   8/10

   Road use and inspection

   Emissions control is still very much there, and flow improves noticeably. The choice for everyday driving.

   100-cell sports catalytic converter

   9/10

   Inspection: depends on local rules

   Half as many cells: flow comes close to a decat and the sound gains real aggression at high revs.

   Decat

   10/10

   Track use

   No emissions control: maximum flow, raw sound, the sharpest revving.

   Sound intensity, on a scale of 0 to 10

   1. 10/10Decat downpipe + Rog cat-back
   2. 9/10100-cell sports catalytic converter + Rog cat-back
   3. 8/10200-cell sports catalytic converter + Rog cat-back
   4. 7/10Rog cat-back only, factory catalytic converter retained
   5. 3/10Factory exhaust, for comparison

   Valves open. With the valves closed, every configuration becomes discreet again.

   What about the engine warning light? With a sports cat, it can come on with some engines: the sensor placed after the catalytic converter measures a different level of emissions control from the original. It is not a mechanical failure, but a warning light should never be masked or cleared without dealing with its cause: the right answer is a catalytic converter suited to the engine, with a map by a tuner who takes it into account. The decat version, for track use only, almost always triggers it. If this happens to you, write to us and we will point you in the right direction. Passing vehicle inspection with a sports exhaust.

3. 3

   Step 3 of 4: Valves: Rog remote or factory control

   Two ways to control the valves on your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo.

   Rog remote

   

   A small control unit fits in the boot. Two buttons, open and closed: the valves respond at any moment, whatever the drive mode. Simple to fit, and we stay on hand throughout the installation.

   Factory control

   • Only for vehicles fitted with factory valves
   • Controlled by the drive modes

   If your vehicle is fitted with factory valves, the exhaust keeps their existing control. The drive modes decide, just as they did from the factory, with no added electronics.

   On the motorway, with the valves closed, the gases pass through the silencer, designed for cruising: no drone at a steady speed. You open up when you feel like it, not when the motorway decides for you. More about exhaust drone.

4. 4

   Step 4 of 4: Tips: the visual signature

   Match the tips to the style of your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo, understated or bold. A particular finish in mind? Send us a photo and we will look at it together.

   • Chrome
   • Gloss black
   • Blued titanium

   

The Rog sound signature on the Panamera's V8

The Porsche twin-turbo V8 has a deep, dense voice, with a low burble at idle and a rumble that swells under load. In the standard Panamera 971, all that is left is a polite murmur, out of all proportion to the force that pins you to your seat.

With the valves open, the Rog exhaust lets the V8 take centre stage: an assertive start-up, acceleration you can hear and a sports car character that complements that of the large saloon. With the valves closed, the Panamera regains its touring silence, perfect for long distances.

From order to fitting

1. Configuration

   You choose your exhaust and enter your VIN, found in box E of your registration document or at the base of the windscreen.

2. Check

   We check compatibility with your VIN before manufacturing begins.

3. Manufacturing

   Your exhaust is made to order, for your car.

4. Delivery

   Free, insured to your door, tracked from dispatch.

5. Fitting

   No welding or cutting: clamps and gaskets, around two hours on a lift.

20 working days from order confirmation to delivery

Warranty

3 years, parts and workmanship, from the date of purchase

Payment

Card, PayPal or bank transfer

Installation

At the garage of your choice

What about the manufacturer's warranty on your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo? In Europe, a manufacturer cannot refuse warranty cover simply because a part from another brand has been fitted: it has to prove that the fault comes from that part. Our article on the manufacturer's warranty.

Our recommendations for your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo

• Daily driving

  • Stainless
  • Cat-back only
  • Rog remote

  Your Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you choose.

  View this configuration

• Fast road

  • Titanium
  • 200-cell downpipe
  • ECU remap

  More sound, more breathing, and a car you can still present at vehicle inspection.

  View this configuration

• Track

  • Titanium
  • Decat downpipe
  • Stage 2

  The most extreme configuration, for track use only.

  View this configuration

And if you are still unsure, that is perfectly normal: it is exactly why we answer every message.

Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 V8 biturbo: your questions

Further reading

• All Porsche exhaust systems
• Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 2.9 V6 biturbo
• Porsche Panamera / Sport Turismo 971 3.0 V6 turbo
• Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid 971 4.0 V8 hybrid
• Stage 2: the role of the downpipe
• How to pass vehicle inspection with a modified exhaust
• Pop & Bang: how it works, and is it risky?
• The 28 brands we cover