Porsche Panamera Turbo Exhaust: Akrapovic vs AWE Tuning

A Porsche Panamera Turbo exhaust upgrade is one of the few modifications that transforms how a 2,100-kg twin-turbo super-sedan sounds, weighs and behaves — without touching the ECU. The problem for buyers is that "Panamera Turbo" spans three very different chassis: the 970 (2010-2016, 4.8L twin-turbo V8), the 971 (2017-2020, 4.0L twin-turbo V8, 550 hp / 567 lb-ft) and the new 972 (2024+). An exhaust that bolts to one will not fit the others. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, we field this exact question weekly, so this guide compares the two brands that dominate Panamera exhaust demand — Akrapovic and AWE Tuning — and shows exactly which kit belongs on your car.

Porsche Panamera Turbo Exhaust Options Compared

Here are the five Panamera Turbo exhaust systems we stock, ranked by generation and price. The single most important column is Fits: buy the row that matches your chassis code and engine. The Akrapovic Evolution Line is our overall Top Pick for the 971 Turbo, while AWE Tuning owns the value crown on the 970.

Which Panamera Turbo Generation Do You Have?

Fitment is generation-specific, so confirm your chassis before you shop. The Panamera Turbo has run three generations, each with a different engine and a different exhaust footprint.

970 (2010-2016): 4.8L Twin-Turbo V8

The first-generation 970 Panamera Turbo used a 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8 making 500 hp (520 hp on the 2014-2016 Turbo, 570 hp on the Turbo S). This is the AWE Tuning car — both the Track and Touring Edition systems are built for the 970 Turbo's 4.8L and use polished silver 3.5-inch slash-cut tips.

971 (2017-2020): 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8

The second-generation 971 Turbo switched to a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at 550 hp and 567 lb-ft, good for a 0-60 mph sprint in the low-3-second range. This is the Akrapovic Evolution Line car. The 2017-2018 fitment is the one covered here, and it is the platform that earns our Top Pick.

972 (2024+): The Newest Panamera

The current 972 Panamera is served by the Akrapovic Slip-On Line, offered for both the V6 and V8 cars and requiring the correct engine-specific fitting kit. It is a bolt-on titanium slip-on rather than a full cat-back, aimed at owners who want the Akrapovic note and carbon tips with a factory-clean install.

Akrapovic Evolution Line: The 971 Titanium Benchmark

The Akrapovic Evolution Line is a complete titanium cat-back system for the 2017-2018 Panamera Turbo, and it is the most engineered exhaust on this list. Every pipe and muffler is high-grade titanium cast in Akrapovic's in-house foundry, so it strips meaningful mass off the rear of the car — titanium is roughly 40% lighter than stainless steel of the same volume. It uses an active X connection, computer-optimized asymmetrical mufflers, an additional pair of exhaust valves behind the rear mufflers for dual-mode sound control, and a resonated link pipe that eliminates in-cabin drone. Best of all, it is ECE type-approved and needs no ECU remap — it is genuinely plug-and-play.

Prefer to spec your own tips? Two ways to buy the 971 Evolution Line

Akrapovic sells the 971 Evolution Line two ways. The Top Pick above ($11,127.27) ships as a complete kit with the carbon fiber tail pipes included. If you already have tips you like, or want to run the titanium set, the same Evolution Line cat-back is available for $8,918.77 with the tips sold separately. The matching Akrapovic carbon tail pipe set is $2,208.50 on its own, so buying the bundled kit saves you the a-la-carte premium.

AWE Tuning for the 970 Panamera Turbo: Track vs Touring

If your Panamera Turbo is a 970 (2010-2016, 4.8L twin-turbo V8), AWE Tuning is the go-to. Both AWE systems are T304 stainless, use a mandrel-bent X-pipe, add up to 12 hp and 12 lb-ft at the crank, and finish with double-walled 3.5-inch slash-cut polished silver tips. The difference between them is volume, and it comes down to one part: the mid-muffler.

AWE Track Edition ($3,075): Maximum Volume

The Track Edition keeps AWE's 180 Technology and X-pipe but replaces the factory mid-muffler with straight tubing. The result is the most aggressive tone available for the 970 — it will wake the neighbors. It is the pick for owners who want their twin-turbo V8 heard.

AWE Touring Edition ($2,875): Refined and Drone-Free

The Touring Edition is the composed sibling. It keeps the factory mid-muffler alongside AWE's 180 Technology and X-pipe, so it turns heads without shouting — ideal for a daily-driven Panamera. AWE's 180 Technology creates a 180-degree out-of-phase sound wave that cancels the problematic frequencies responsible for in-cabin exhaust drone, so you get a richer note on throttle and a quiet cabin at a highway cruise.

Got the New 972 Panamera? The Akrapovic Slip-On Line

Owners of the 2024-and-newer 972 Panamera have a factory-clean option in the Akrapovic Slip-On Line ($7,568.98). It is a titanium slip-on with carbon fiber tips that mounts to the OE system rather than replacing it from the cats back, so the install is quick and reversible. It is offered for both V6 and V8 Panameras and requires the matching engine-specific fitting kit, so tell us which drivetrain you have when you order.

Sound, Weight and Power: What Actually Changes

Panamera Turbo exhausts deliver in three areas. First, sound: all four systems here wake up the twin-turbo V8's deeper mid-range and add snap on lift-off, with the Akrapovic and AWE Track Edition being the most vocal and the AWE Touring the most civil. Second, weight: only the Akrapovic systems are titanium, roughly 40% lighter per unit volume than the OE and AWE stainless, which trims unsprung and rear-axle mass. Third, power: AWE publishes conservative, verifiable gains of up to 12 hp and 12 lb-ft at the crank on the 970, while Akrapovic's Evolution Line improves flow and power distribution without requiring a tune. None of these systems needs an ECU remap, which keeps the install clean and the factory warranty conversation simple.

Installation and Fitment Notes

Every system here is a bolt-on cat-back or slip-on — no cutting, no welding, no tune. The Akrapovic Evolution Line and Slip-On Line reuse the factory sensors and are ECE type-approved, so there is no check-engine light and no remap. The AWE systems bolt to the 970's factory hangers and reuse the OE valve wiring. Our team in Tampa, FL can confirm your exact chassis code and drivetrain from your VIN before you buy so the kit fits the first time — the single most common Panamera exhaust mistake is ordering a 971 part for a 970 car, or vice versa. When in doubt, send us your VIN and we will match the correct system.