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Porsche Panamera to start production next April
We've known about the Porsche Panamera for more than two years, and it appears we've still got another year to go before the sedan hits dealer showrooms. AutoTelegraaf is reporting that the Panamera will begin production next April, with the goal of producing 20,000 four-doors per year. The 4,000-pound Porsche will be available with a choice of 300 hp 3.6L V6, a 4.8L V8 packing 405 ponies, or 520 hp with forced induction, and prices are rumored to be between €80,000 and €125,000. Word on the street is that the V6 won't be available until 2010 and a hybrid will follow for 2011.
The Panamera has been in the headlines for a long time, and hopefully the talented designers in Stuttgart have been taking their time making the beefy sedan look better than the preproduction model above. We find it hard to believe that Porsche will make an ugly vehicle, though. The Cayenne doesn't count.
[Source: AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Shipey 9:07AM (5/28/2008)
"The 4,000-pound Porsche"
Enough said.
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Cary 2:17AM (5/29/2008)
I like it. For a guy who has a bitch for a wife who insists on a car for the family (they can take th bus), he can have this along side his 997. Problem solved.
SPG 9:11AM (5/28/2008)
I wonder how set in stone that next April production date really is?
Porsche has been trying to make a four door 911 from the late 60's and it's never worked out.
This car will of course not be a limo'ized version of the 911 but in fact it's own unique car, apparently not a beautiful one at that either.
Regardless, I am looking forward to the car that I still feel should of been produced instead of the Cayenne (which I have warmed to) next April.
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rouse42 9:13AM (5/28/2008)
reminds me of that stretched ferrari that guy did.
ugly.
hey porsche add a few more feet to it and sell it to the limo companies in cali and vegas.
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Alex 10:02AM (5/28/2008)
You guys write: "We find it hard to believe that Porsche will make an ugly vehicle, though. The Cayenne doesn't count."
You guys are kidding, right?! Aside from the 911, Porsches have always looked ho-hum, and often simply awful. Are you trying to tell me that the Cayman is a good-looking car? Or the 924 and 928 of yore?
User 10:39AM (5/28/2008)
Alex,
Everyone I've talked to find the Cayman to be one of Porsche's most beautiful cars ever made. I think its curvy, almost feminine shape is absolutely gorgeous. Everytime I see one in red I'm stunned at how great that car looks and I always find myself wishing that they'd put a more powerful engine in it.
It's a matter of opinion, my friend.
Brad 2:09PM (5/30/2008)
I have to agree with user. I have seen a couple of Caymans on the road in the last week or so and I thought they were gorgeous. Normally a 911 goes by and it's just ho-hum but I was immediately attracted to the Cayman's looks.
Tim 9:14AM (5/28/2008)
You know if it was shorter and had 2 less doors I think they would have a hit on their hands
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AC 3:46PM (5/28/2008)
...and put the engine in the back. wait...
J M C 3 9:52AM (5/28/2008)
Waiting for a front midship engine 2 door,2 seater to rival Mercedes SL .
Vintage 9:44AM (5/28/2008)
Uh, apparently you guys don't remember the 914, 928, and 944. All were rather 'ugly' porsches. I still like them, but they're definitely an acquired taste.
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Richard 1:14PM (5/28/2008)
Well, the 914 wasn't really a Porsche - though the 914-6 was. The 914 was a VW.
The 928 and 944 were front-engined which, back then, was blasphemy.
Don't forget the 968 turbo convertible: perhaps the best looking Porsche ever built.
jim 9:22AM (5/28/2008)
Sort of looks like a pregnant 928
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RoadrunnerSTi 2:07PM (5/28/2008)
Where did this 3.6l V6 come from? Why not use one of the existing boxer-6s from the 911s?
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El Paco 2:53PM (5/28/2008)
I think it's of Volkswagen Origin, an evolutioon of Passat R36's with Direct Injection.
Steve in TN 9:36AM (5/28/2008)
I don't know why the author hopes the final design will look better than the pre-production model shown in the photograph. In fact, THIS IS the final design for the Panamerica! The design is set and you're looking at it. I guess it doesn't look too bad - they could have come out with a stretched 4-door 911 as they did several years ago as a prototype. Now that one was ugly!
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steveo391 1:16PM (5/28/2008)
How do you know so much about this car if you don't even know how to spell the name?
And I'm with roadrunnerSTi, why not use the flat 6 with a turbo or two?
Richard 9:33AM (5/28/2008)
April?
Perfect. Just in time for Easter. Kind of looks like a jelly bean, don't you think?
Or a turd.
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elindiano 9:34AM (5/28/2008)
it almost weighs as much as a touareg.
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ronzo 9:34AM (5/28/2008)
Even if I could afford a car in this prices range, this thing would not even be on the list... it's hideous.
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