Click above for a high-res gallery of the Porsche Panamera
According to a source that recently attended a Porsche focus group in California, the crew from Stuttgart is considering offering the new Panamera sedan with an optional "targa" top and making a diesel engine available.
Autoweek's insider saw a rendering of a three-panel "targa" roof that could conceivably make up another trim level of the Panamera when it goes on sale next year. The sources also said that two mules were on hand, a base and a turbocharged variant, sporting front fender vents that "were reminiscent of [the] Ford Focus." Uh oh.
Although details weren't given on the specifics of the diesel engine, Porsche is apparently considering offering an oilburner along with gasoline and hybrid drivetrains, and if approved for production, Autoweek speculates that Porsche could utilize one of Audi's diesels. That could include a 3.0-liter V6, but more likely Porsche would opt for either the 4.2-liter V8 or 6.0-liter V12 that powered the R8 TDI Le Mans concept.
[Source: Autoweek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Franz @ Jun 27th 2008 3:02PM
My God, that's awful. I try not to criticize the looks of cars too much but this thing is just plain ugly. Does anyone like how this looks? Anyone?...
KA @ Jun 27th 2008 3:59PM
Yeah, that's basically one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen. The proportions just don't work, and seem like a throwback to that mightiest of designs -- the Pontiac Aztek.
Xcountryflyer @ Jun 27th 2008 5:09PM
One of the ugliest new car designs I have seen. Horrible.
Torrent @ Jun 27th 2008 5:33PM
Looks can be decieving. Let's hope this is the case.
cisco @ Jun 27th 2008 3:04PM
porsche is making station wagons?
Chase @ Jun 27th 2008 3:07PM
I wish Porsche would just make this car disappear. I'll pretend like it never even happened...
larry @ Jun 28th 2008 9:53AM
I agree with you. That Porsche Panamera F.A. should amscray.
What is the F.A.? Stands for fat a**!
Porsche should be Porsche, and forget all these niches.
rouse42 @ Jun 27th 2008 3:10PM
porsche should sue this guy who made the 911 into a sedan
Hot_Carl @ Jun 27th 2008 3:14PM
Four Door Hatch?!?
jonathan charak @ Jun 27th 2008 3:16PM
if you go to the actual Hi Res picture site, someone comments on the lines you see under the hatch which is more likely the actual lines of the car.
Lets be honest everything (except possibly the Cayenne) is golden that Porsche makes. The Cayenne isn't bad, but its an SUV and I hate SUVs that aren't made/built for real off road use.
Alex @ Jun 27th 2008 3:40PM
I'm not saying I like the vehicle but the Cayenne is actually quite a capable off-roader. I use the Trans-Siberian Rally as my reference.
carsteve @ Jun 27th 2008 3:21PM
I'm not a huge fan of the styling, but I don't think it's AS BAD as is being commented, however...as a huge Porsche fan, I'm pretty disappointed on how they really dropped the ball on the opportunity to set THE standard for "4 door coupes," and what perfect timing it would have been, too. They seemed like the perfect company that could set THE standard in that segment (pretty sure this one doesn't fall into the "4 door coupe" segment, however, that's the segment they should have went for, if they didn't already).
carsteve @ Jun 27th 2008 3:26PM
At second glance, the Hi-Res picture of the front 3/4 makes the car look good. I know I wrote how Porsche dropped the ball, which I still think is true, however, at second glance I think this thing might be just a little nicer than I anticipated, and will likely look better in person and in actual production guise (spy photos don't necessarily make a car look good, and no, I'm not making excuses).
Quan @ Jun 27th 2008 10:51PM
Of course. The front of this car is beautiful. It's classic 911 styling. From the b-pillar back, however, it's hideous. That's where all the criticism is coming from. They seriously need to fix the rear end styling if this car is ever going to be a success. I still believe they can do it, because it's Porsche, but from all the mules and prototypes so far, it doesn't appear to be going well.
Quan @ Jun 27th 2008 10:58PM
Imeant to say reminiscent of the Carrera GT, not 911.
Todd @ Jun 27th 2008 3:31PM
Dr. Porsche is rolling over in his grave...Is the Porsche Design Studio on strike or something?
Jared @ Jun 27th 2008 3:36PM
That really is homely.
tchikes @ Jun 27th 2008 4:44PM
I'm fairly certain the above photo's are quite different from what Porsche's production model will look like. I think that the finished product will end up resembling the 2012 Porsche 928 concept, a car that will be out a year after the Panamera an is to be built on the Panamera platform. There is no doubt in my mind though that by the time the Panamera hit the streets it will be a very enviable car. below is a link to a photo of the 928 concept. http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/buying_guide/porsche/928/2012_porsche_928/2012_porsche_928_car_news/758312-1-eng-US/2012_porsche_928_car_news_submodel_full.jpg
Allan @ Jun 27th 2008 3:36PM
From the front it's not absolutely horrendous... but any other view and OMG... blah. WTH?
Atomicbri @ Jun 27th 2008 3:44PM
I think Porsche is smarter than this. I do not believe this silhouette we see here of the rear is anywhere near final. Upon close examination of picture #4, you can see the hatch back rear where the opening meets the roof is slightly higher, making a slight bump. Plus looking close at the rear door and rear quarter panel, I think the window will continue all the way down. I have made a very fast note on the pic to show what I think Porsche is doing, click here to see
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f360/atomicbri/porschepanamerafix.jpg
I don;t think Porsche will make such a fat and uneven rear end that is so clunky and chunky and so off looking to the rest of their line. Their sketches looked so good, hard to see it not come out somewhat good looking.