With a release date set all the way for 2009, you will be certain to see hundreds of spy shots of the upcoming Porsche Panamera. At least this mule is painted in a different color than the last one. The four-door coupe, with the name that makes us hunger for sandwiches, will be flogged and tweaked until it's near perfect in Porsche's mission to provide rapid and luxurious transport for three lucky occupants and one privileged driver. We expect the Panamera will be available with engine choices that range from the 3.5-liter V6 in the Cayenne all the way to the 700hp V10 used in the Carrera GT, as well as include a V6 gas-electric hybrid co-developed with VW.
By 2009, we the range of this new 'crossover' segment will include the Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A7 and others. Like we said, expect to see more photos of this wildly anticipated offering from Porsche.
[Source: WorldCarFans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Roanoke @ Oct 27th 2006 3:17PM
Eww, I just threw up in my mouth a little.
That thing is hideous!
mkg @ Oct 27th 2006 3:17PM
Uh, oh. THis is NOT the Panamera I had envisioned. This is stylistically a big disappointment. It's leaden. I just looks heavy and ill-proportioned...sort of like a VW Phaeton with a Porscheilike nose. It's certainly not the sleek 911-style that has endured for decades. I remember seeing a conceptual rendering several months that was much more in keeping with the classic Porsche character. Now, we have this. Must have been a dream.
Kowell @ Oct 27th 2006 3:26PM
I gotta admit.... a 4 door Porsche sure does sound weird..... seing it is even worst.... I'll pass up on it..
O.I. @ Oct 27th 2006 3:31PM
Easily the ugliest car I have ever seen. I can't even wait to see the ridiculous price tag they put on this thing.
Jason @ Oct 27th 2006 3:37PM
At first glance I thought it looked like absolute crap too. But then you have to reaslize how heavily wrapped this car in a crappy forest green shrowd to keep our spying eyes from viewing what could potential be a sweet sedan!
Hung2 @ Oct 27th 2006 3:42PM
Call in Chris Bangle!
Fabulo @ Oct 27th 2006 3:48PM
I was going to say it's ugly, but then you posted this:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/27/the-car-as-art-leepu-awilas-rmx-1/
And also the spy shot may be sporting sheetmetal totally different from the final version.
Mike @ Oct 27th 2006 3:49PM
Ok, Porsche, please stop this madness now. Either design a sedan that looks like it's even worth driving, or don't try to design one at all!!! I thought the cayman was ugly when it came out, and it's kinda grown on me... but this.......atrocity will force me to avert my eyes as it drives by... i feel sorry for the overly wealthy who will buy it just because their neighbor doesn't have one (yet)... this ugly, fugly, god awful, blasphemous, whatever you want to call it (except awesome) piece of **** should just be put out of it's misery before it's ever seen again...
peter @ Oct 27th 2006 3:51PM
agree with #6 it will defenetly be a sweet sedan, porshe is not that stupid to make a mistake on styling (hopefully)
scargo @ Oct 27th 2006 4:01PM
I know it's reported as a front engine, but this looks like a Carrera motor could fit behind the rear wheels? Maybe that's a transaxle?
Max @ Oct 27th 2006 4:07PM
Porsche needs to realize that the only car in their lineup that needs to look like a 911 is the 911. They should have gone a different direction styling wise on this thing. It's a shame because it'll probably be an amazing car otherwise.
It looks terrible.
DC_1 @ Oct 27th 2006 4:21PM
Hello!!It just a test car!!! I'm sure Porsche will not release a car looking like the incredible HULK!!
justin @ Oct 27th 2006 4:22PM
Did you guys notice this in the article?
"Seen in the attached photos this engine is currently being tested by Porsche under the body of a BMW 5-Series station wagon."
JW @ Oct 27th 2006 4:23PM
I like it! Its like a 4 door hatchback but extremely luxury. No one else has that, that I can think of.
I3ziko @ Oct 27th 2006 4:25PM
my eyes hurt!
ZAMBONO @ Oct 27th 2006 4:43PM
I am sure its heavily camo'd and we still have 2 years development time, but truly as of right now it looks like a short Cayenne and that equals fugly. I'll buy a CLS any day, and that Rapide is looking very nice as well. If this comes out as is, it will be one of Porsches biggest flops in some time.
mr @ Oct 27th 2006 4:54PM
Camo'd or not, some definite hard points are emerging, and they don't look good. Overall proportions are terrible. That S-shaped A-pillar is ridiculous. And the indentations in the leading edges of the doors are reminiscent of a mid-90's Pontiac.
And body lean's out of control. That thing better be going helluva fast to be whomped down on the bumpstops like that.
http://ecofootprint.blogspot.com/
Cap'n Jack @ Oct 27th 2006 4:57PM
With all the plastic faux fenders it looks like a G35. Why call this a spy photo if its nothing more then a mule?
thesawzall @ Oct 27th 2006 5:18PM
I gotta call bullcrap on it having everything from a 6 cylinder to a V10. Seems like a lot of extra engineering for a few extra sales, 2 powerplants would be enough, like the other cars in their lineup.
It would make sense to put the Cayenne's powerplants in there as SUV sales will likely tail off by it's introduction.
SI @ Oct 27th 2006 5:51PM
That's just awful, Porsche has always been 2-door car, and it gotta remain.