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Porsche Panamera, Update, Production to Commence April 2009

god that's fnkn awful looking.

even Captain Kirk would feel uncomfortable in that cockpit!
 
Whether you love it or loathe it, Porsche's new Panamera sedan is due to hit the streets in 2009 and is expected to change the performance sedan market forever. Buoyed by the success of the Cayenne SUV, Porsche's managers have seen fit to put their famous badge on a four door car measuring approximately as much as a Mercedes S-class. Thanks to new reports coming out of Germany we can finally reveal everything you wanted to know about the Panamera, from its dimensions to the engine range.

The production Panamera is a large car – it's almost five meters long and two meters wide and the base version weighs in at around 1800kg. Owners of the top-of-the-line 4.8L V8 Turbo model will be looking at a kerb weight of almost 2 tons. Porsche will launch the Panamera with three engine choices – a 3.6L V6 with 300bhp, a 4.8L V8 with 405bhp, and a 4.8L Turbo model with approximately 520bhp. Even with the base model you'll be able to hit 250km/h on the Autobahn, but if you decide to buy the Turbo you can nudge 300km/h, according to Autobild.

Porsche will use the Panamera to showcase its commitment to green motoring with the introduction of a hybrid model using the 3.6L V6 mated to a 110hp electric motor. Porsche's hybrid drive system will allow drivers to use any combination of the two engines, much like today's Toyota Prius.

Base prices will begin at £60,000 for the V6 RWD model and go up to £100,000 for the Turbo 4WD variant. Porsche will expand its workforce by almost 1,000 to cater for Panamera production and the company hopes to sell 30,000 units a year. Sales will begin in early 2009 but only the V8 models will be available at first. You'll have to wait until 2010 for the V6 model and 2011 for the long-awaited hybrid variant. The Panamera will also get Porsche's upcoming 7-speed dual-clutch technology, though the company will have been beaten to the market by everyone from Nissan to BMW. Also available to customers will be adjustable shock absorbers and a number of sports modes to tune the character of the car.

On tap are a number of Audi/Volkswagen-sourced engines such as the V8, V10, and V12 TDI that could make their way into the Panamera depending on customer demand. Also available is the V10 originally used in the Carrera GT, though it's likely Porsche will wait a couple of years before launching a model with this engine, if at all.

Early reports are also claiming the interior is typical Porsche but that the seating space inside the Panamera is very comfortable, even for four long-limbed adults. We'll have to try it ourselves to believe it, but this may be the reason why Porsche had to make it so long.
 

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That is the worst picture of them all.

If I wanted a grander tourer than a 911 albeit with 2 doors I would rather buy a second hand Maserati that has taken the huge depreciation hit.

IMO the Cayenne is a much more exciting ownership prospect.
 
love it or loathe it, is should be a good car with the amount of testing thie car has had !
 
It is rather disgusting. :)
 
Truly grotesque! Looks like a 911 with a mid section added, not unlike those tasteless limo's you see taking hen nights from bar to bar.

Although a newbie to Porsche, I can understand the old guard seeing this as a move in the wrong direction/devaluing the essence of the brand. However, Porsche is a business so if this $hit sells and it helps lower the 'development'/running costs of their real cars then so be it.

Imagine a similar song was sung when the Cayenne was launched yet it has been hugely successful....financially at least right?
 
Bonners1 said:
Imagine a similar song was sung when the Cayenne was launched yet it has been hugely successful....financially at least right?

Yes you're right but the Cayenne still remains the ugly duckling of the bunch. I think the Panamera is a much nicer looking car than than the Cayenne and also believe the its the disguise that's making it appear so ugly. One of the earlier pictures in this thread (where the car is sporting 997 Turbo wheels) doesn't look half bad actually. IMO

~ Maxie
 

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