Porsche Panamera Revealed Finally!
For Porsche, the 911 has been both a blessing, and a curse. A blessing in that it has seems to have transcended the usual automotive evolutionary process; a curse in that the car still, in many ways, defines the entire company. Porsche has attempted to break the mold numerous times over the past three decades -- remember the 928, and the 924/944/968? But until the Boxster -- a clever product development by former R&D chief Horst Marchart that delivered two cars (the 996 edition 911 and the Boxster) -- Porsche remained in the thrall of the 911.
Today, Porsche still fields a line-up of cars that is 75% rear-engined. Which makes the new Panamera -- a front engined, four door sports Porsche -- a bold move, despite the success of the Cayenne SUV. When it hits the market next year, the Panamera will be fighting a two-front battle against the Aston Martin Rapide from the north and more than likely Lamborghini Estoque from the south in a few years' time (though Lambo boss Stefan Winkelmann insists the car has yet to be given the green light). The four door sports car category is brand new, but already the field is getting crowded.
You need to understand two important things about the Panamera's development. First, Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking, who's 6ft 2 in., insisted he had to be able to sit comfortably in the back seat. Second, it had to look like a Porsche. Those two facts drove the entire program -- and are the reason why the Panamera looks slightly awkward in profile.
At 195.7 in., the Panamera is longer than a Cayenne by 6.9 inches and almost the exact same width at 76 inches to the Cayenne's 75.9. It's no SUV though, standing only 55.8 inches tall. Porsche hasn't released the Panamera's weight, but despite its dimensions, insiders insist extensive use of materials such as aluminum and magnesium mean the car will be among the lightest large four doors in the business.
Performance will be impressive, thanks to a line up of direct injection engines derived from those used in the Cayenne SUV. Base engine will be a 300hp, 3.6-liter V-6. The volume selling version in the U.S. is expected to be the 400hp, 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V-8. Power junkies will be lining up for the V-8 Turbo, which will boast 500hp. Despite their outputs and performance, all the Panameras will be significantly more fuel efficient than similarly powered S-Class Mercedes or BMW 7 series sedans, insiders claim.
First Look: 2010 Porsche Panamera
A Hybrid V-6 Panamera will also be available, offering at least a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy over the base car, say Porsche sources. The system uses a donut-shaped 34-kilowatt electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the six-speed Tiptronic transmission. A clutch, operated automatically, allows the engine to stop while the electric motor operates.
Most Panameras will be rear-drive, utilizing either a six-speed manual transmission or Porsche's seven-speed PDK dual-autoclutch gearbox. However, the naturally aspirated V-8 will be available with all-wheel drive, which will be standard on the big horsepower Turbo.
Likely to be much more controversial than the relocation of the engine will be the Panamera's exterior styling. From any angle, the Panamera is unmistakably a Porsche, despite the two extra doors. The side profile is unquestionably the least flattering. Walk around the car, however, and Michael Mauer's design team has cleverly hidden the length and height of the roof. Broad shoulders at the rear of the car help tighten the overall stance. The 911-esque tail hides a hatchback for access to the rear load space.
It all makes sense when you slide into the rear seat. Though strictly a four seater -- Porsche designers deliberately dropped the H-point of the occupants as low as possible to help handling, making it impossible to seat anyone over the high transmission hump that runs down the center of the cabin -- the Panamera is astonishingly roomy in the rear. Dr Wiedeking will be able to ride in comfort.
The Panamera will be assembled in a brand-new 237,000 sq-ft wing of Porsche's Leipzig plant, which is currently under construction. Engines will come from Porsche's Zuffenhausen plant, while painted body shells will be shipped in from Volkswagen's Hanover plant. In all, some 70% of the Panamera's components will be sourced from German suppliers.
Porsche will most likely reveal the Panamera to the world at the 2009 Geneva Motor show in early March, and it should go on sale in Europe shortly afterward. The cars are expected to hit U.S. dealerships sometime in the fall of 2009. Porsche hopes to sell about 20,000 of the cars per year.
-Scott Evans contributed
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