See For Yourself: Porsche Panamera production starts in Leipzig
Porsche Panamera assembly begins at Leipzig – Click above for a high-res image galleryAfter years of anticipation and ramp-up, Porsche has finally begun production of the Panamera four-door model at its factory in Leipzig. But don't take our word for it, you can go and see for yourself as the German automaker has re-opened the factory to the public.
While preparing the German assembly plant, where the Cayenne is also built, for production of the Panamera, Porsche had shut down the location for eight months, during which some 22,000 square meters of capacity were added to accommodate the new assembly line. Now that the renovations are complete, visitors are once again welcome to tour the facility, free of charge, by booking online. So if you find yourself headed to Saxony, why not take a swing by? If not, you can check out the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.
Gallery: Porsche Panamera assembly at Leipzig
[Source: Porsche]
PRESS RELEASE
Sports Car Manufacturer reopens the Leipzig Plant to Visitors
Experience the new Porsche Panamera up close and personal
Stuttgart/Leipzig. In the Leipzig plant of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, the production of the new Panamera has started. On April 19, it was presented to the global public in Shanghai for the first time. The car will be launched in September starting with some European markets. Porsche is manufacturing the four-door Gran Turismo together with the successful sporty Cayenne SUV on one product line. For this, the Leipzig plant has undergone a 22,000 square meter expansion over the course of two years. The state-of the-art production and logistics concept was also refined further during this time.
No plant tours were possible during the past eight months due to the construction. Effective immediately, visitors may again experience production up close and personal and have the chance to see the first Panamera vehicles roll off the assembly line in Saxony. The approximately two-hour tours are free of charge, they can also be booked in connection with pilot and co-pilot offers, where participants have the chance to experience the Porsche driving features with a sporty Cayenne SUV on the racetrack or on the off-road premises.
Further information, all key dates and the possibility to book online are provided around the clock under the internet address www.porsche-leipzig.com.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ack154 8:35AM (5/14/2009)
Those big red overalls are pretty hot. Do they shop at the Oompa Loopma store or something?
Reply
Jsams4131 8:38AM (5/14/2009)
isn't that what auto mechanics traditionally wore decades ago. my guess is that its about history
Jason 9:02AM (5/14/2009)
That's the first thing that popped into my head - Oompa Loompas
MGBYG 9:36AM (5/14/2009)
I thought Oompas wore Orange in that horrific Gene Wilder adaptation from long ago..
I thought maybe elves in Santa's workshop...
ack154 10:35AM (5/14/2009)
I looked it up after I mentioned it... white overalls, brown shirt, orange faces, green hair. So the colors are way off... but that was still what I thought of seeing these people.
Smegley 11:33AM (5/14/2009)
Oompah Loompah loompatti boot
I build a Porshe and wear a jumpsuit
Oompah Loompah loompatti pee
If you’re a douche in this car you’ll be.
Matt 11:28PM (5/15/2009)
@Smegley: +100
ROFLMAO
Serge K. 8:48AM (5/14/2009)
I visited there back when they assembled Carrera GT. The tour was great, plus they had a number of their classics from 70s-80s racing era just sitting around on display.
Highly recommend.
Reply
Alex 10:00AM (5/14/2009)
So you went when it would have been cool to tour the facility. I'm not going on a Porsche a factory tour unless i'm looking at 911s and Caymans being built.
Matt 11:24PM (5/15/2009)
I did the BMW facility tour in Munich last year. Wasn't free (6 euro?) but rather interesting and 2 hours well spent
ederer62 8:51AM (5/14/2009)
Sorry, I can't resist, cute jump suits!
Reply
CJ 8:51AM (5/14/2009)
Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Reply
Kitko 9:10AM (5/14/2009)
Just fyi, Cayenne's chassis are made in VW's plant in Slovakia on the same line as Touareg's (WV are made there completely).
Reply
Fusion 10:44AM (5/14/2009)
And the Panamera's body (including the paintjob) is being made at the VW Commercial Vehicle plant in Hannover. So while it may not be Porsche, it is at least german... ;)
IIRC the Boxster and Cayman are not built by Porsche at all, but by Valmet in Finland until 2012, and by Magna in Austria after that. Though it has been said, that the Valmet Boxsters were of a better build quality, than the Porsche built 911s... ;)
MajorGeek 9:15AM (5/14/2009)
I thought Mario Brothers
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/287815195_4ce3f69937.jpg
Reply
Assass1n 9:28AM (5/14/2009)
yeah like when mario powers up with firepower
Protzenegger 1:30PM (5/14/2009)
Right on, Assass1n.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj291/carexpert/fire-mario.png
MajorGeek 2:02PM (5/14/2009)
Good pic Protzenegger, was looking for one like that!
ack154 9:18AM (5/14/2009)
What about your spam ?
Reply
G.G. 9:26AM (5/14/2009)
The overalls are about the only thing stylish about these pictures. As for the car, it is a dud. How could Porsche spend all that money on the development and with those proportions somehow manage to get it soooo wrong. It looks like they had the designer of the Cayenne do this one too! I still prefer the Mercedes CLS as the world's first four-door coupe and still the best.
Probably a great car to drive, but I wouldn't want one parked next to my 911. Sorry, but a Porsche should have the engine in the rear, that's just how it is. And, even though this one's got 4 doors, so did the Porsche engineered VW 411 and 412 over 30 years ago but kept the engine where it belonged for a Porsche.
As far as I'm concerned, the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne belong on one production line in the same factory marked USELESS WASTE!
Reply