Monday 25th September 2006

Porsche Panamera spotted

Spy-shots from the Ring

---

Official Porsche Panamera drawing

The Porsche Panamera has been spotted at the Nürburgring. Although not due until 2009, Porsche's eagerly-awaited four-door GT is clearly well developed -- and well-disguised.

Stuttgart has tried to hide the classic 911-style roofline but it shows clearly. Also visible are the front radiator apertures, with a clear family resemblance to modern 911s, some form of wing that Winding Road (see link below) suggests is movable, and a rather tight-looking rear view.

The shots suggest that the final form of the car's bodywork has yet to be fully decided, given the rather ad hoc nature of some of the metalwork.

You might say that it's not a pretty car -- although Porsche does still have some time for a make-over...

• Best shots yet of Porsche’s Panamera

[dinkel]

"Priddy’s people suggest that the base engine will be Volkswagen’s 3.5-liter six-cylinder, putting out 300 bhp, and upper-level Panameras will benefit from Porsche’s direct-injection eight-cylinder, available in 350 bhp naturally aspirated, as well as with twin turbos giving 560 bhp."

Rapide for me . . .

This still looks Masser meets 350Z meets Dr Bland to me, sorry.

Bumped into a late 928 the other day . . .

[klassiekerrally]

An upperclass Porsche with a VW engine. I would hesitate to buy it. (IF I could afford to buy one...)

[Geneve]

"Although not due until 2006...."

Shouldn't that be 2009?


"You might say that it's not a pretty car....."

Still looks better than the Cayenne - even with the disguise

Edited by Geneve on Monday 25th September 12:05

[jsr]

That's one ugly looking car (possibly intentionally though to disguise it). Hopefully it'll look a bit better when it's released

[Gulliver911]

dinkel said:

"Priddy’s people suggest that the base engine will be Volkswagen’s 3.5-liter six-cylinder, putting out 300 bhp, and upper-level Panameras will benefit from Porsche’s direct-injection eight-cylinder, available in 350 bhp naturally aspirated, as well as with twin turbos giving 560 bhp."

Rapide for me . . .

This still looks Masser meets 350Z meets Dr Bland to me, sorry.

Bumped into a late 928 the other day . . .

I would be very surprsied if Porsche offer the WW engine, this car is targetting the BMW M5 type of 4 door saloons, anything less than the Cayenne 8 cylinder block will not cut the mustard.

[Andrew D]

Gulliver911 said:

I would be very surprsied if Porsche offer the WW engine, this car is targetting the BMW M5 type of 4 door saloons, anything less than the Cayenne 8 cylinder block will not cut the mustard.

Well they already offer a VW V6 in the Gayenne, and it's looking like the engines will be the same between the two models (wisely), so I can't see why they wouldn't.

It's seemingly going to be pitched as a CLS and 6-Series rival, in the same manner as the Gayenne is a rival to the ML and X5. Both the CLS and 6-Series feature a circa 270bhp six cylinder motor in the base car, so I can see a rival base Panamera.

The Turbo will be the flagship model, as the CLS55/M5/M6 are in their respective ranges, and it should be able to hold it's own against those.

[Twin Turbo]

Hmm, I know it's not the finished article, but just look at the height of the windows....the artist's impression is sooooooooooooo much lower and sleek.

Please Porsche, don't screw this one up.

The Aston Martin Rapide shows how it should be done.

[andyinpembs]

...sounds like I'm the only one that thinks it looks quite nice then. Obviously a bit rough around the edges at this point but..

[Andrew D]

andyinpembs said:

...sounds like I'm the only one that thinks it looks quite nice then. Obviously a bit rough around the edges at this point but..

Can't really tell from the spy shots, but I'm confident that Porsche will make a good job of it.

[magic torch]

I'll think you'll find thats a Cerbera being shafted by Veyron.

[Dr S]

I just hope the Cayenne-ish roof line and hips are part of the disguise and the final model will be much sleeker. Merc was able to do it with the CLS as well.

[Gulliver911]

andyinpembs said:

...sounds like I'm the only one that thinks it looks quite nice then. Obviously a bit rough around the edges at this point but..

I like it too, and I also think that from a business point of view, there is money to be made for Porsche to play in the ubber saloons and taking market shares from Mercedes and BMW, it is a sound decision to release a 4 door I believe.

But I am always amazed at the general negativity shown at every early anouncement of new models and spyshots. 'Fuggly', boring, etc....

If you read the same articles for the anouncement of the Cayman, the 997, the 997 Turbo, most reactions are negative.

That's not limited to Porsche either, the anouncement for the new M3 is equally negative, and it is something I noticed consistently.

Wonder why this is, if it is just an 'average'
resistance/conservatism to new designs, or if indeed the designs are poor....

[phil1979]

I know it's early days, but is anyone else bored of Porsche putting the same front end on all their cars? I'm waiting for a Porsche van to turn up next, with a 911's nose on it. Then a bike, a plane, a motorboat, the CEO's wife, etc etc

[wadsy]

The drawing show the potential but seriously unimpressed if the car itself is represented in the pictures. The Aston totally blows it away for looks. Another 'Cayenne' ugly!

[magic torch]

phil1979 said:

I know it's early days, but is anyone else bored of Porsche putting the same front end on all their cars? I'm waiting for a Porsche van to turn up next, with a 911's nose on it. Then a bike, a plane, a motorboat, the CEO's wife, etc etc

Yes, they even put it on that little seater they do.

[Andrew Isaac]

Looks a smidgen like a 612 Scaglietti in my opinion.

[mark r skinner]

Don`t forget this car`s still 3 years away. The 928 was my dream car for many tears, so I`m really looking forward to it`s replacement.

[Sonic Nonsense]

God, that's the most boring car ever. Just put a 911 on a diet of pies and crisps.

Ditto Aston showing how it could and should (nay, MUST) be done.

Never been a fan of Porsches, I think they all look bland and uninteresting, and don't get me started on the boredom of never changing the lines, but this one (at this early stage, admittedly) should get stomped by the Aston, thought I fear the badge will sell it regardless.

[zebedee]

Excellent, now I will be able to laugh at two different cars on the road - the Cayenne and this.

The fact that people with no taste don't mind parting with huge sums of money is a good one.

[Dula]

I Hope Porsche do produce something special (and new) the cut and carved new models they have released to date seem as if their designs are too ingrained and they are fighting a battle of the 'if it aint broke don't fix it addage' but 40 odd years of the same shape...come on. they need to push their boundaries to find the next 911 shape to build for the next 40 years. If this model turns into a stretched 911 I'll scream. They've added a roof to the boxter and come up with a Cayman and a few extra cills depth to the 911 to create the Cayenne.. the Cayenne does seem to work on some levels though granted as a beast of a oddity, (oh and the Gemballa liveried LH drive version I left Heathrow airport next too last week sounded absolutely fantastic....) but something fresh and new please don't file the artist's impression away before the final design sign off is complete as it looks like a step in the right direction. I'll admit to being a wee bit pessamistic with this one though.. a bit of filler in those oles and there we have it the finished article aarrrrgghhh.