Shanghai 2009: Porsche Panamera finally gets its public unveiling
by Sam Abuelsamid on Apr 19th 2009 at 12:15PM 
2010 Porsche Panamera unveiing - click above for more high-res images
Underscoring the increasing importance of the Chinese market to automakers around the world, Porsche has unveiled its newest model at the Shanghai Motor Show. We've seen official images of the Panamera for at least six months and even had a chance to ride in it last month in Germany but this is the first time the public has been able to see it in person.
The true four-seat Panamera goes on sale this Fall with normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the company's 4.8-liter direct-injected V8 in all markets. Some markets will also get Audi's new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and a hybrid system will join the lineup in 2011. Check out our in-depth run-down of the technology in the Panamera which will have to hold you over until we get to drive the Panamera this summer. We hope to have more live shots soon, but for now, click on the galleries below and check out the official press release after the jump.
Gallery: 2010 Porsche Panamera
[Source: Porsche]
PRESS RELEASE:
Porsche Panamera makes World Debut in Shanghai
Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, presented the Panamera to the world public today at the 13th Auto Shanghai. Joining the 911, the Cayenne, and the Boxster/Cayman, this new four-door Gran Turismo is Porsche's fourth model series, with three variants entering the market in Germany on 12 September 2009. The Panamera is making its debut as an eight-cylinder delivering 400 and, respectively, 500 horsepower and with both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, a six-cylinder gasoline model and a hybrid version following later.
Klaus Berning, Executive Vice-President Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, expressed a clear view at the world debut of the Panamera: "Introducing the Panamera, we are entering a market segment completely new for our customers and we are once again consistently expanding our model portfolio."
Through its design and looks alone, the Panamera clearly stands out from the competition at very first sight. Like no other car in its class, it offers a truly unique combination of sporting performance and luxurious comfort. Despite its low and sleek silhouette so typical of Porsche, the Panamera, measuring 4.97 metres (195.7") in length but only 1.42 metres (55.9") in height, ensures a generous feeling of space on all four seats.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Porsche's Executive Vice-President Research and Development, added an equally clear statement: "Our engineers, technicians, and designers have invested all their know-how, years of experience, a wealth of ideas, and their full passion for sports cars in this four-seater Gran Turismo."
The Panamera is introducing no less than five outstanding innovations in technology as world premieres to be admired for the first time in the luxury performance class – among them the first Start-Stop system in conjunction with automatic transmission, air suspension with additional air volume available on demand in each spring, as well as active aerodynamics with an adjustable, multi-dimensional, extendable rear spoiler on the Panamera Turbo.
Porsche's Gran Turismo sets new standards in its market segment in terms of performance, driving dynamics and efficiency, benefiting from Porsche's traditional core competences and years of experience in motorsport, since efficient and powerful engines, lightweight technologies, and optimised aerodynamics are crucial to success also on the race track. All models in the Panamera range come with Porsche Direct Fuel Injection, low-friction drive systems, and weight-optimised lightweight bodies.
Moving on to the suspension, the customer can choose among steel suspension or adaptive air suspension with a fully-controlled damper system. And thanks to its intelligent chassis concept, the Panamera combines the driving comfort of a luxurious grand touring saloon with the driving dynamics of a thoroughbred Porsche sports car. Depending on his individual style of motoring or current traffic conditions, the driver can choose either a particularly comfortable or an especially sporting set-up most conveniently at the touch of a button.
With its centre console extending back from the dashboard all the way to the rear seats, Porsche's new Gran Turismo offers an unprecedented feeling of space and motoring pleasure on all four seats, highlighting the personal ambience and style of each individual passenger. The driver's seat and cockpit offers optimum ergonomics all round, a low seating position providing that direct contact to the road again so typical of Porsche. The passengers, in turn, all enjoy highly comfortable single seats. The luxuriously appointed interior, finally, already offering a supreme standard on the regular series models, may naturally be upgraded on request by a wide range of optional extras and special equipment.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Taglane 12:21PM (4/19/2009)
umm...*trying to think of a compliment*
Those wheels sure are round..
Reply
Victor 12:25PM (4/19/2009)
saw them in Yosemite NP on an engineering test run (Panamera Turbo, 4 of them) a few weeks ago. Honestly, i hate how they look in pictures...but, find them much more amenable in person.
homunculus 12:43PM (4/19/2009)
Amenable to what?
/grammar nazi
I hope Porsche is amenable to changing the rear quarter.
Hike15 1:10PM (4/19/2009)
umm that paint sure is shiny
zamafir 2:09PM (4/19/2009)
why do we care what it looks like, with the exception of the GT, what modern porsche has been achingly beautiful. All they do is slightly refine the same shape decade after decade. Why does it surprise any of us that they're incapable, after working on the same repetitious model decade after decade, of coming up with something achingly beautiful. They're not aston. If you want something hot but slow with delightful ford bits, buy an aston. If you want the same ol same ol fantastic porsche feel, buy a porsche. I'll never get the whole 'well an audi isn't a bmw, and a porsche isn't an aston' argument, no sh!t, that's why they appeal to different audiences.
Taglane 3:33PM (4/19/2009)
Play along zamafir. up here ruining the party.
ken_aisin 3:36PM (4/19/2009)
Compliement...... I guess it looks very masculine with the optional hitch and the dealer-installed TruckNutz.
Catapult 12:27PM (4/19/2009)
We need to have a speech bubble contest on what that guy on the left is thinking.
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VP 12:56PM (4/19/2009)
Why the hell couldn't i present a 911 instead of this ass model!!!
Taglane 1:19PM (4/19/2009)
The Aveo in that corner is lookin pretty good...
Ken Stamper 1:55PM (4/19/2009)
Haha, yeah. He looks like he's about to vomit. Which is an appropriate reaction to the design
Reader 9:30PM (4/19/2009)
I believe he looks more like he's pushing out a fart.
MGBYG 9:54AM (4/20/2009)
Reader has it...The two fellas in the background either heard it or caught a whiff.
The car? It's okay from the inside, looking out over the hood.
The two back seats, and the dormer built around them, sure ruin the 911 daydream, though.
jason tsui 12:42PM (4/19/2009)
Why does it say PORSCHE on the back..........................
I love that this video is just wind/road noise............
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The FedEx Man 1:02PM (4/19/2009)
Because even they know how much of a piss-poor name Panamera is.
Greg 1:49PM (4/19/2009)
The PORSCHE is on the back because it was on the 928 too.
http://www.dragtimes.com/images/3358-1987-Porsche-928.jpg
Everett 12:50PM (4/19/2009)
"If this thing sells, I'm going to lose more cash than I did betting against the Cayenne."
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IMF 1:01PM (4/19/2009)
This think is going to be sold better than hotcakes. Sorry for you and Clarkson. And it's visually more appealing than the Cayenne, which is not so difficult nevertheless
MajorGeek 12:53PM (4/19/2009)
I don't know, its starting to grow on me. In a market full of clones, it seems pretty original. Watch it sell like crazy by Porsche standards, better then the Cayenne. The new soccer mom imagemobile.
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416Hammy 12:59PM (4/19/2009)
ONE photo from the unveiling?
Weeeeeeeeeeak.
Reply