Autoblog

Profit Proliferation: Porsche riding high on Cayenne, Panamera sales

Aaron Richardson — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Europe, Porsche, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche tripled its profits in 2010, thanks largely to profits from the Cayenne and Panamera. The Stuttgart-based automaker reported $960 million in profits before taxes and interest in 2010, up from $227 million the year before.

More impressive is the fact that those numbers represent a shortened fiscal year in 2010, meaning these things are moving like the proverbial hot cakes. Porsche's five-month revenue total increased 59 per cent to 3.87 billion Euros.

Porsche is hoping to expand its global sales to 200,000 by 2018, or roughly double the number of dreamboats it moves now. With sales climbing this quickly, that goal doesn't seem too far off.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera

All Photos Copyright (C)2011 Michael Harley/AOL

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Profit Proliferation: Porsche riding high on Cayenne, Panamera sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tally Ho: Porsche delivers over 22,500 Panamera models in year one

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:35:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Porsche, Luxury

2010 Porsche Panamera 4S - Click above for high-res image gallery

Perhaps on the corporate side Porsche hasn't had much to gloat about lately, but on the product side it's cigars and bubbly and told-ya-so's. When the Panamera took to the track it won its very first race in the Italian Supercar series, and that came just as the 25,000th four-door was being built at the Leipzig factory. It's a good thing the factory was working so hard: 22,518 of those Panameras have been sold after just a year on the market.

A finer peek into the numbers reveals the Panamera 4S is the sales king, followed by the Turbo and the Panamera S. And in the "No Surprise At All" file, Los Angeles leads individual markets with 890 deliveries. Follow the jump for the press release on the ugly-but-quick duckling turned sales swan.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Porsche Panamera V6

Photos Copyright (C) 2010 Drew Philips, Michael Harley / AOL
[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Tally Ho: Porsche delivers over 22,500 Panamera models in year one

Tally Ho: Porsche delivers over 22,500 Panamera models in year one originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #185 - Valve Springs, Speed Records, Wagons and Tangents

Dan Roth — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Bugatti, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Saab, Toyota, Volvo

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris Shunk, Alex Nunez, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth wrap up the 4th of July long weekend with Episode #185 of the Autoblog Podcast. Topics are Toyota's valve-spring recall, a new engine in the Mercedes CL-Class, the Bugatti Veyron's speed record, and the newly teased Volvo V60 Wagon. We go off on a Saab tangent and finish up by responding to your questions before wrapping at an hour and twenty minutes. Thanks for listening, see you next time!

Autoblog Podcast #185 - Valve Springs, Speed Records, Wagons and Tangents

In the Autoblog Garage:

Jaguar XF
Porsche Panamera S
Corvette Grand Sport
Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

News:

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Chris Paukert, Alex Nunez, Chris Shunk

Runtime: 79:15

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #185 - Valve Springs, Speed Records, Wagons and Tangents originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche recalls 2010 Panamera over potential seatbelt failure *UPDATED

Chris Shunk — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Porsche

2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are issuing a recall for the 2010 Panamera for a potential seat belt defect that could leave the driver unprotected in the event of a crash. NHTSA says the defect can occur when either front seat is put in an "extreme position," which could lead to the seat belt mount being detached from the anchoring mechanism while the belt is fastened or opened. The post-jump NHTSA release doesn't explain what an "extreme position" is, though we're guessing that the safety administration is referring to a seat that is either very close ~~to or very far away from the dash~~ (see UPDATE below).

But while we don't know which seat positions could cause the problem, we do know that the result could be serious. NHTSA says that, in the event of a crash, the seat belt may not adequately protect the front seat occupant. Th agency's release states that there are up to 3,176 units affected by the safety action. Panamera owners (congratulations!) can take their vehicle to the nearest Porsche dealer, where an additional locking element will be installed onto the belt anchoring system to correct the issue. Hit the jump to read over the official press release.

*UPDATE: Porsche spokesman Gary Fong tells Autoblog:

"The company has discovered that in extreme forward front seat positions the front safety belts do not meet our strict safety standards. To assure the front belts works properly in all possible positions, Porsche will add an additional element to the anchoring system. The repair takes about 15 minutes and will be done free of charge. No injuries or fatalities have been associated with this recall."

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Porsche recalls 2010 Panamera over potential seatbelt failure *UPDATED

Porsche recalls 2010 Panamera over potential seatbelt failure *UPDATED originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche announces Panamera with 300-hp V6 starting at $74,400

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche Panamera V6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche has just announced that it is filling out the remainder of its Panamera lineup with the addition of a V6-powered model that will be available with either rear- or all-wheel-drive. Starting price for the RWD V6 Panamera will be $74,400 while the AWD Panamera 4 will begin at $78,900 (plus destination).

Wondering how that compares with the V8-powered Panamera S? Let's look at some numbers. The 3.6-liter V6 puts out 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which is a decrease of an even hundred horses and 74 lb-ft from the 4.8-liter V8. Each buyer will have to decide for themselves whether those hundred extra ponies are worth a $15,400 surcharge.

Porsche's seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual-clutch transmission will be standard equipment in the V6 Panamera, along with such necessities as an electric moonroof, power liftgate and the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with navigation.

According to Porsche, the V6 puts 66 fewer pounds over the front axle, resulting in an overall weight of 3,880 pounds. Auto Stop/Start technology ought to help the V6 Panamera eke a few more miles from each gallon of gasoline, and though official EPA numbers are not yet available Porsche says the car will not be subject to a gas guzzler tax. Check out the gallery of high-res images below and hit the jump for the official press release.

Gallery: Porsche Panamera V6

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche announces Panamera with 300-hp V6 starting at $74,400

Porsche announces Panamera with 300-hp V6 starting at $74,400 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Techart goes all matte with Panamera Black Edition

Drew Phillips — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:41:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Porsche

Techart Panamera Black Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Painting a car matte black is nothing new. In fact, a quick look at the Autoblog archive reveals that both manufacturers like Lotus and Mazda as well as dozens of tuners have succumbed to the trend. Hamann, Brabus, Gemballa and Novitec have all come out with special edition models with the flat black livery. The latest to join the club is Techart, which recently unveiled the Panamera Black Edition.

Completely swathed in matte black, Techart's latest model features their aerodynamic kit, 22-inch alloy wheels (painted in black, of course), daytime running lights and a custom exhaust system. The color theme continues on the inside with black leather and Alcantara seating in addition to a matte black dashboard, door panel trim, center console, air vents, cup holder and pretty much anything else that can be painted.

The price for the Black Edition? €220,000, which is nearly an €85,000 premium over the base price of a Panamera Turbo in Germany. Yikes! Follow the jump for the brief press release from Techart and browse through the images in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Techart Panamera Black Edition

[Source: Techart]

Continue reading Techart goes all matte with Panamera Black Edition

Techart goes all matte with Panamera Black Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2010: Porsche 911 Turbo S is all that in blue, now with "bending lights"

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:15:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche, Luxury

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Porsche 911 Turbo S isn't new, it's just, well, more. All those options boxes on the Porsche Turbo (and you know how Porsche loves options boxes) don't need to be ticked - Porsche already checked them for you. It's the torque vectoring, seven-speed-DSG-and-dynamic-engine-mount-having, chrono-sport-timing, all-singing, all-dancing adaptive ("bending") headlight wearing wunderkind. Oh, and it gets 24.8 miles per gallon. Which makes the "S" short for "sipping." Kinda. Have a look at the release after the jump and the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Porsche 911 Turbo S

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Porsche 911 Turbo S is all that in blue, now with "bending lights"

Geneva 2010: Porsche 911 Turbo S is all that in blue, now with "bending lights" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FAB Design makes the Ugliest. Panamera. Ever.

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Luxury

FAB Design Full Broadside Panamera -- Click above for high-res image gallery

It took us a while, but we have finally realized what's going on: tuning companies are overstocked with Butt Ugly. They didn't ration their supply properly, now they've got unused cases of Butt Ugly lying around, stinking up the place. That's why we've been assaulted with all these steaming piles lately -- because 2010 Butt Ugly will be shipping soon, so all this 2009 Butt Ugly has got to go go go!

And that's the best explanation we can come up with for this, the FAB Design Full Broadside Porsche Panamera. The "extrovert Wide Bodykit" is fashioned entirely from carbon fiber, not that it helps any. If we have anything nice to say, it's that we don't mind the wheels or three trapezoidal exhaust tips. Nor do we mind the upgraded engine doing 690 hp. But that wrapping... oh, the humanity...

FAB suggests this is what its customers want, saying that its tweaked Panamera is the first of its new FAB Exclusive line. Praise be it will be limited to 15 units. The press release is after the jump, and to those that can, have a look at the FAB Panamera from every angle in the gallery of high-res photos below. Hat tip to Johannes

Gallery: FAB Design Panamera: A Full Broadside

[Source: FAB Design]

Continue reading FAB Design makes the Ugliest. Panamera. Ever.

FAB Design makes the Ugliest. Panamera. Ever. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche cranks out 10,000th Panamera after just three months on sale

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Porsche

The Porsche Panamera has only been on sale in other parts of the world for three months now, but the automaker has already cranked out the 10,000th production example. The Panamera is built on the same production line as the Cayenne SUV at Porsche's Liepzig plant in northeastern Germany.

So far, Porsche has taken some 9,000 orders for the new five-door grand touring hatchback and it has yet to go on sale in the United States. Porsche is currently planning to build about 20,000 Panamera units annually at the Liepzig factory. The 10,000th car? A silver Turbo destined for Singapore.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche Panamera

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche cranks out 10,000th Panamera after just three months on sale

Porsche cranks out 10,000th Panamera after just three months on sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Panamera wins inaugural Bloomberg Car of the Year

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Europe, Porsche, Luxury

2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo - click above for high-res image gallery

Normally when a vehicle wins a car of the year award, its merit is so obvious that all you have to do to justify the selection is say, "just drive one." However, with the Porsche Panamera, the excitement surrounding Porsche's first ever four-door sports sedan/car is so palpable all you must say is, "Just talk to someone that's driven one." The Panamera's that good. Our man Michael Harley's still heaping praise upon the Turbo in his sleep. In case you missed it - the Porsche Panamera rules.

Then it comes as no surprise that Bloomberg News has selected the different looking Panamera as its inaugural Car of the Year. Says Bloomberg's auto-guy Jason H. Harper, "Like a lot of people I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of the Panamera, but sometime between having a six-foot eight-inch buddy in the back seat and hauling into deep corners around the track, it became clear. It's still a Porsche -- just a really versatile one." You will also no doubt remember that our colleagues over at Inside Line recently stuck the Panamera at the tippity top of their "Most Wanted" list. That's a lot of praise, particularly for a vehicle that has been so divisive aesthetically.

Bloomberg also selected several other winners including Best Green Car (Ford Fusion Hybrid), Best Sports Car (Audi R8 5.2), Best Economy Car (Mazda3), Best Executive Sedan (Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG), Best People Mover and Family Car (Lincoln MKT EcoBoost) and Best All-Around Sports Utility Vehicle (Land Rover LR4). All good choices by the way, though this author might have swapped the E63 AMG for the Porsche and figured a way to sneak in the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500. Just sayin'. Press release after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche Panamera wins inaugural Bloomberg Car of the Year

Porsche Panamera wins inaugural Bloomberg Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inside Line editors pick their 'Most Wanted' for 2010 - do you agree?

Chris Shunk — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Audi, Ford, Mazda, Porsche

Inside Line Most Wanted 2010 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We love award season, even if it is a bit tough to keep up with them all. Motor Trend has a set of golden calipers for its Car, Truck and SUV of the Year winners. Car and Driver has its 10Best. Automobile has the, well, the Automobile of the Year. Then there's Edmunds Inside Line and its six Most Wanted winners. Sure, Most Wanted doesn't enjoy the same sort of name recognition as the aforementioned awards, but at the very least, we tend to like the vehicles IL picks as their favorites. We also appreciate the fact that their selection process isn't exactly chock-full of rules. If they tested the vehicle before November 1, 2009, then it's eligible for Inside Line's six shooter. The only award category that truly stands out is the "Instant Classic," an award won over the last two years by the Audi R8 and the Nissan GT-R, respectively.

This year's list didn't have quite the raw power of last year's winners, but we can definitely see where the final six could be considered big fun on four wheels. The big winner is the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The 540-horsepower pony car picked up IL's Instant Classic award for being such a willing dance partner - even at 3,900 pounds. In fact, Blue Oval badges dominate this year's Most Wanted list, as the EcoBoost'd Flex and the wicked cool F-150 SVT Raptor made the final cut. Porsche scored with its new Panamera, while Audi found its way back on the list with the R8 V10. The cheap thrills Mazda3 rounds out this year's list. Click on the gallery below to check out Inside Line's Most Wanted winners in our high-res gallery, then let us know if you agree with their findings by leaving a note in 'Comments.'

Gallery: Inside Line Most Wanted 2009

[Source: Inside Line]

Inside Line editors pick their 'Most Wanted' for 2010 - do you agree? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Essen Preview: speedArt to debut PS9-650 Panamera

Drew Phillips — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows

speedArt PS9-650 Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Essen Motor Show is just days away, and all of Europe's tuners are set to unveil their latest and greatest aftermarket parts at Germany's version of SEMA. One of those companies will be speedArt, which will be introducing its new performance and appearance packages for the 2010 Porsche Panamera.

Using the Panamera Turbo as a base, speedArt have transformed Porsche's four-door into a 650-horsepower monster thanks to larger turbochargers, an upgraded exhaust system and a revised ECU. The German tuner claims impressive performance figures: a top speed of over 200 mph and 0-100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

The body kit fitted to the PS9-650 is fairly subtle, and dare we say tasteful. The aerodynamic package consists of a front chin spoiler that improves air flow to the brakes, rear diffuser, roof spoiler, side skirts and a rear bumper. Several other items are available as well including 22-inch forged wheels; an upholstered steering wheel; various trim pieces in aluminum, wood, or carbon fiber; and color-matched stitching. Hit the jump for speedArt's official press release, and be sure to browse through the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: speedArt PS9-650 Panamera

[Source: speedArt]

Continue reading Essen Preview: speedArt to debut PS9-650 Panamera

Essen Preview: speedArt to debut PS9-650 Panamera originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mansory previews aggressive aftermarket program for Porsche Panamera

Drew Phillips — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Porsche, Design/Style

Mansory Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mansory isn't one to shy away from the controversial. The creative minds at the Swiss tuning company have come up with with everything from a pink Bentley Continental GT to a gold-clad Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR. So perhaps it's no surprise that they have turned their attention to Porsche's not-so-traditional Panamera. Mansory is planning to release an aerodynamic kit for the four-door grand tourer that the company says gives the car a more "masculine" appearance. Other available components will include 21-inch wheels, a sport exhaust system, and a variety of wood, carbon fiber, and aluminum interior accessories. Full details can be found in Mansory's press release after the jump, or you can check out the renderings in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mansory Porsche Panamera

[Source: Mansory]

Continue reading Mansory previews aggressive aftermarket program for Porsche Panamera

Mansory previews aggressive aftermarket program for Porsche Panamera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Porsche Panamera will evade gas guzzler tax

Chris Shunk — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Porsche

2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

As far as high-end sports cars go, the Porsche lineup is pretty fuel efficient. Light weight and six-cylinder engines usually do the trick, but those attributes don't exactly describe the new Panamera. The large, four-door Porsche comes standard with a bare minimum of 400 horsepower, and while it isn't a Biggest Loser candidate, it won't balance the scales of justice with a GT3 on the opposing dish, either.

Inside Line is reporting that the impressive size and power of the Panamera won't lead to a gas guzzler tax, citing an email from Porsche Cars North America spokesman Gary Fong that reportedly tabs fuel economy for the 4.8-liter, 400-horsepower Panamera S and 4S models at an impressive 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The 500 pony Panamera Turbo will reportedly still have a respectable 15/23 rating. For comparison's sake, Maserati's rival Quattroporte GT S achieves just 12 mpg/18 highway, and it is down 66 horses on the Porsche.

Fuel economy numbers for the Panamera are surprisingly handsome, beating even some sport coupes in the $100,000+ range. Reasons for the car's remarkable fuel economy numbers include its dual clutch transmission and the inclusion of start/stop technology. The Environmental Protection Agency hasn't yet published the official fuel economy numbers for the range, so we'll just have to sit tight for now with these preliminary figures.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera

[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: Porsche Panamera will evade gas guzzler tax originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: VW to axe Porsche Cayenne and Panamera after merger

Chris Shunk — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Porsche, Rumormill, Luxury

2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

The past couple years have been a whirlwind for Porsche. The German luxury sportscar maker tried in vein to buy out the much larger Volkswagen only to come within a $700 million VW loan of bankruptcy. During that time, Porsche managed to hatch the all-new four door Panamera while refining much of the rest of its product lineup.

Nobody really knows what's going to happen to Porsche product lineup once VW takes over the mighty little sports car manufacturer, but CAR Magazine in the U.K. seems to think that the change will be dramatic. Namely, the British site says the cash-printing Cayenne SUV and the fresh on the market Panamera will be on the outs when the vehicles' product cycles end in seven years. CAR says VW chairman Ferdinand Piech is planning to take a more brand-specific approach to Porsche by focusing on the two seat sportscars that make the Stuttgart, Germany-based sports car maker great. One vehicle often rumored is a roadster that could slot below the Boxster in the Porsche lineup. The entry Porsche could be based on VW's Modular Sportscar Structure (MSS), giving Porsche an entry level mid-engine sports car for the rest of us (who have at least $35-40k).

While it makes sense for Porsche to focus on core products like the 911 and Boxster, it also makes abundant sense to keep profits coming. The Cayenne sells in relatively high numbers here in the U.S., and the Panamera could well end up being a success story in spite of its controversial aesthetics. Seven years is a long time, and we could easily see one or both vehicles surviving beyond 2016.

[Source: Auto Observer]

Rumormill: VW to axe Porsche Cayenne and Panamera after merger originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: Porsche Panamera makes North American debut

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Porsche, Luxury

2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

You might have guessed that Porsche was one of the official sponsors of Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival at the Monterey Jet Center this year by all of the Panameras (Panamerae?) on hand. Although we've already sampled Stuttgart's Quattroporte-competitor in Germany, we got a chance to see and sit in some U.S. versions on American soil for the first time here in Monterey. About a half dozen of them were scattered around the Jet Center, turbos and non-turbos alike. While not the most beautiful cars at the show by a long shot, they certainly attracted a a lot of attention.

To be honest, we were surprised by how many people seemed to love the styling. It was mostly the women, believe it or not, who could be overheard saying how stylish the car was, and more than a few mentioned the Mercedes CLS and Quattroporte when they discussed its looks. Admirers mentioned the clever hatchback and all of the space it provided for luggage. It was the interior, though that seemed to generate the most favorable responses. Roomy and luxurious, with quality details all around, the only negatives we heard were about the number of switches on the center console.

We'll have some driving impressions to add later in the week, but for now, enjoy our gallery from Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival at The Monterey Jet Center.

Gallery: Porsche Panamera North American Debut

Monterey 2009: Porsche Panamera makes North American debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera a 4-door sedan 78 years in the making

Michael Harley — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, Porsche, First Drives

2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche invited us to Germany to be one of the first to drive its all-new Panamera, the company's first four-door sedan. We spent three days assailing the Bavarian Alps, streaking across the German Autobahn, and meandering through picturesque Alpine towns. We touched 170 mph at one point and sat stagnant in city traffic during another. What were Porsche's objectives with this new sedan? How does it drive? Who's going to buy it? And, most importantly, does the Panamera deserve to wear the coveted Porsche crest? Find out after the jump...

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera a 4-door sedan 78 years in the making

First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera a 4-door sedan 78 years in the making originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shanghai 2009: How do you get a Porsche Panamera onto the 94th floor?

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Porsche, Shanghai Motor Show

Click above for a high-res image gallery

The day before the public unveiling of the Porsche Panamera at the Shanghai Motor Show, journalists were invited to the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center in China to catch a glimpse of Stuttgart's first four-door sedan. Providing further proof that both the Germans and Chinese are a persistent bunch, a team of workers proceeded to strap the Panamera onto a special pallet, tipped it on its tail and wedged the dark silver metallic sedan into the freight elevator to make the 1,394-foot trek up the world's third-largest building. The pictures tell the tale better than we can, so check them out in the gallery below, along with more live shots of the Panamera straight from Shanghai.

Gallery: Porsche Panamera at Shanghai World Financial Center

Gallery: 2009 Shanghai: Porsche Panamera

Shanghai 2009: How do you get a Porsche Panamera onto the 94th floor? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Panamera image and details leak out

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:50:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Porsche

According to AutoTelegraaf, the image above is the first official picture of the Porsche Panamera, showing the new four-door "coupe" in all its oddly proportioned glory. The Dutch pub released the image and details on the sedan after Auto Motor und Sport supposedly broke the Monday embargo. More details will be released late Sunday night, but in the meantime, let's look at the reported specs.

The Porsche Panamera Gran Turismo is 16.3 feet long, 6.3 feet wide and 4.66 feet tall, with a wheelbase of 9.6 feet. Weight hasn't been disclosed, but its roughly two tons. The most striking detail on the profile shot is the indentations leading from the front fenders, aft of the wheels, into the doors, but the jury is still out on the Panamera's bulbous back end. The slippery shape and low profile gives the sedan a drag coefficient of 0.29, while an electronically actuated rear spoiler will keep things planted at speed.

An electronic air suspension is part of the package, along with an LSD, and power can be sent to either the rear wheels, or all four, depending on the trim level. Motivation will be provided by a range of engines, beginning with 3.6-liter V6 putting out 300 hp, and continuing upwards with the 400 hp, 4.8-liter V8 Panamera S and the Panamera Turbo, packing a twin-turbocharged version of the same bent eight putting out an estimated 500 hp. Power will be sent to Porsche's new PDK dual-clutch gearbox and although a diesel model has been ruled out, a V6-hybrid variant with 350 hp will come along at a later date.

Porsche aims to sell approximately 20,000 units of the Panamera each year, with the automaker estimating that 20% will be the range-topping Turbo model. The Panamera will only be available in S and Turbo guises at launch, with the V6 model following shortly thereafter. Once established, Porsche hopes demand will increase to 50,000 units annually, with sales beginning in the U.S., Europe and Asia next year. Thanks for the tip, Jelle!

UPDATE: More photos have surfaced.

Gallery: Porsche Panamera Gran Turismo

[Source: AutoTelegraaf]

Porsche Panamera image and details leak out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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