REPORT: Share and share alike, Panamera platform may get used elsewhere in VW group
2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for a high-res image gallery
With the addition of Porsche, the Volkswagen Group now has ten brands in its stable. Over the last decade, VW has become pretty adept at sharing platforms and hardware. Porsche and the rest of the group already share an SUV platform between the Cayenne, Touareg and Q7, and the factory-fresh Panamera four-door could be next. VW executives have already indicated that the Panamera is unlikely to live past the first-generation model as a Porsche. That said, like the previous generation Audi A4 that lives on as the Seat Exeo, the Panamera could see new life in the Bentley, Audi, Bugatti or (however unlikely) Lamborghini ranges.
If Bugatti is to survive beyond the Veyron, it needs new product and a sedan based on the Panamera would likely make more sense than the Porsche. Bentley reportedly favors an aluminum Audi platform to replace the steel Phaeton underpinnings of the Continental range, so the winged B may be out of the picture. An Audi is also unlikely for the same reason, since the two-ton Panamera is made of steel. With so many possibilies, it'll be interesting to see how Porsche evolves over the next decade.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
VW GTi 7:22PM (9/05/2009)
The platform, drivetrain, and the overall principle of the car are fine. They just need to change the sheet metal and it could be a genuine hit throughout all of the Volkswagen Group.
Bugatti does need another car in its lineup to increase cash flow more in their favor. The Veyron is great, but they need a bread and butter car.
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gstylezprodigy 7:25PM (9/05/2009)
After seeing the Honda CrossTour this car isn't that bad looking.
James 7:46PM (9/05/2009)
A Phaeton CC would be doable, methinks...
James 8:06PM (9/05/2009)
The Panamera looks just like a stretch Porsche..with it's distinct, recognizable lines.
The Crosstour otoh is but a Honda abomination...bar none.
click.kas 5:07AM (9/06/2009)
i want a bugatti with 911 DNA which is cheaper comparitively to the veyron
http://www.indianautotalk.com
summazooma 10:22AM (9/06/2009)
Not saying it looks good (required qualifier), but the old Bugatti EB-112 concept (dating back to the heady Artioli-owned Bugatti) is surprisingly similar to this in silhouette &, even, some detailing... Jus' sayin'
http://www.promotex.ca/articles/cawthon/2005/images/2005-11-16-D.jpg
Jei 4:04PM (9/06/2009)
Since the initial concern is weight; can the Panamera platform be made using aluminum?
Aren't modern aluminum platforms ridiculously stong? It would be nice for VW's ultra-luxury brands to use much lighter platforms.
Mike7 7:41PM (9/05/2009)
As good a chassis as it might be, the fact that it is steel in an industry that should be moving to light weight vehicles, I don't see it living on. The Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ have been made from aluminum for years, and we all know that light weight heightens performance and economy. Given that Porsche is a brand built on performance and handling, why wasn't it aluminum in the first place?
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Affalterbach 7:52PM (9/05/2009)
Cost saving concerns made Porsche dump Aluminium and stick with high strength steel.
Mike7 8:20PM (9/05/2009)
But Jaguar, even under Ford, wasn't exactly overflowing with cash.
sparrk 9:39PM (9/05/2009)
they explained they used high strength steel and aluminum because aluminum alone is not strong enough for the Panamera. the quantity of aluminum needed to make such a stiff chassis would be heavier than the high strength steel they used.
zamafir 2:05AM (9/06/2009)
@sparrk - interesting, thanks for posting that!
Flea 4:28AM (9/06/2009)
sparrk, aircrafts are almost entirely made of aluminum, shaped so that the wings and fuselage can resist enormous forces, even hurricanes. There's no way aluminum isn't "strong enough" to make a car, it's just that such a frame would need to have some radical innovations, and Porsche obviously would never want to admit they couldn't do it for lack of time and money.
Flea 4:37AM (9/06/2009)
just to point it out- The 612 scaglietti has a 440 pound aluminum spaceframe, which ends up being 60% tougher than it's equivalent in steel. And that's cradling a hugely heavy V12 on the front.
sparrk 3:33PM (9/06/2009)
i'm just saying what i read in an article. i was surprised by that too.
Wanted 7:46PM (9/05/2009)
Ten brands? And I thought GM was bad before.
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Patrick 12:33AM (9/06/2009)
Okay wtf. Rank me down, but what are the other brands?? I'm too lazy to look because I'm on my phone.
I count:
VW, Audi, Porsche, Seat, Skoda, Lambo, Bentley and Bugatti. What am I missing??
nagmashot 3:55AM (9/06/2009)
Volkswagen AG brands
VW
Audi
Seat
Skoda
Porsche
Lamorhini
Bugatti
Bentley
Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge
Scania
not controlled by VW but partly owned
MAN(truck) 29.9% vote rights
it is widely unknown that Volkswagen is with Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, Scania and MAN together the 5th largest truck producer in the over 16to class worldwide and 3. or 4. in the over 7.5to class
F50 8:05PM (9/05/2009)
Hopefully VW replaces the steel by Aluminum if possible.
I could see this forming a base for a new Phateon, maybe even a Lamborghini Grand Tourer to compete with the Ferrari 612, BMW M6, Aston DB9, etc. with Estoque styling cues
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Clavius 8:38PM (9/05/2009)
Ok I know I just may be rated down to like -5 stars here but if they are thinking of "Platform sharing". Why not pilfer a Boxer platform and make the Bluesport or.... a true rear engined Bettle? -:shrugs:-
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