It is convertible Monday here at Top Speed, because if you thought that the sports car builder Porsche would be content with a four-door sedan, then you were wrong! The German automaker has decided that there is still a lot more potential with their new platform and have decided to make another version of the Panamera sport saloon, a convertible. Except in order to do so the Panamera will have to lose a pair of its doors and exchange the steel unit for a ragtop.
The German sportscar maker, Porsche, has launched an online campaign to get the word out about the fourth model in their line-up, the Panamera. Developed in collaboration with the Bassier, Bergmann & Kindler (BB&K) advertising agency, the new four part web site not only presents the product, but at the same time offers inspiration into the 4th dimesnsion.
The head of Porsche Marketing Communications, Stefan Büscher, commented: “With the Panamera web special, we have created an entirely new means of accessing the vehicle and Porsche as a company. It is a global, integrated solution that presents the product to the customer online and creates the world of Panamera, while at the same time offering an exciting route to Porsche’s core brand values, particularly for new customers.”
So sit back and pretend like you still have the $89,800 to $132,600 that was in your stock portfolio last year. It’s time to build the ultimate soccer dad’s Porsche.
We got our first glimpse at the Porsche Panamera at the end of last year, but it wasn’t officially unveiled until now. Porsche used the Shanghai Motor Show to stand behind its first sedan.
Since Porsche doesn’t come out with new models very often, it wanted to do something special for the Panamera. Part of the unveil took place at what Porsche called the “world highest event platform”, 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center in China. The only problem getting the sedan 1400 feet in the air was it has to go vertical on a freight elevator.
Ground-bound Panameras will start churning out of Porsche’s Leipzig factory soon, as European sales will begin in September. The first cars hitting the streets will only be V8 version making 400 and 500 hp. Fuel efficient six-cylinder and hybrid model should follow in about a year.
Until we can actually get our hands on one, enjoy some driving footage and new pics:
Panamera made its world debut in April at the Shanghai Motor Show. It will be the fourth stand alone model in Porsche’s line up (next to the the 911, Boxster/Cayman and Cayenne). Sales will begin in late summer of next year.
Porsche has learned a hard lesson with cars like the 928. It seems people know Porsche best for the 911, so now design doesn’t stray too far from the 911. This is why even though the Panamera is a front-engined car, it still looks like a stretched Carrera. The Panamera will measure 76.0 inches in width, 55.8 inches in height and has an overall length of 195.7 inches.
Porsche revealed today details on two different trim-levels: Turbo and 4S. Unlike the 911 and Boxster/Cayman, the Panamera will not have a boxer engine. Instead the lineup will take its cues from the Cayenne and have engines in the more traditional V6 and V8 arrangements. Power will range from 300 to 500 bhp depending on trim level and will be mated to either a manual six-speed gearbox or seven-speed Double-Clutch Gearbox (PDK). Porsche is also preparing a hybrid version for the near future.
Porsche is ready to roll out the new Panamera sedan. We caught it testing around Germany when we were over there, but the car was too quick for our photographers. Now Dan Edmunds is showing off why the car was moving so quick with this hot lap during a press event at Porsche’s Weissach test facility.
Porsche has not officially pulled the wrappings off the four-door Panamera, but that’s not stopping it from rolling out the sales planning. Porsche’s U.K. office has revealed the base pricing structure for when the cars go on sale on September 12th:
£72,266 ($99,237) Panamera S with a 405 hp 4.8-liter V8
£77,269 ($106,107) Panamera 4S with a 405 hp 4.8-liter V8
£95,298 ($130,865) Panamera Turbo with a 500 hp 4.8-liter turbo V8
The PDK double-clutch transmission is available for £2,289 ($3,143).
What is oddly absent from the pricing schedule is the base model which should get a 300 hp 3.6-liter V6 engine. Will the U.K. not get the V6 engine? Historically, the U.S. is the only place that shies away from small engines.
Maybe all will become a little clearer when the Porsche’s sedan makes its official debut next month at the Shanghai Auto Show.
Follow the press release after the jump for the full breakdown.
Porsche has just released the first images of the Panamera’s interior. The inside of the car is both sporty and refined. The car will feature bucket seats for all four passengers. You can shift the 7 speed PDK gearbox from either the buttons on the steering wheel or the beautifully sculpted shifter in the center console that runs the entire length of the interior.
The Panamera will go on sale in Germany this September. The car will be available with a six-speed manual transmission and a 4.8-liter V8. The vehicle will be priced at €102,251 (around $130k USD). The Panamera will arrive in the U.S. a month later and will be priced at a much more reasonable $89,800 for a rear wheel drive 4.8 liter V8 S mode.
There is speculation about a V6 hybrid arriving by 2011, and maybe even a diesel.
This idea of a larger high performance vehicle for 4 is nothing new. BMW has been doing it for years with the M5, even Ferrari claim to be able to fit 4 adults in a 612 but the Porsche’s closest rival should be the Maersatti Quattroporte. Other fine examples of high class people movers are the Lamborghini Estoque and the Aston Martin Rapide.
The rear weight bias of the Porsche 911 may sometimes make driving it a little awkward (uber-oversteer in the early modes), but that much weight on the driving rear wheels also makes for great traction. Unfortunately the front-engined, rear-wheel drive Porsche Panamera doesn’t share this weight advantage and results like above may happen when testing in the snow. Lucky for Porsche, it already has another family-sized model to lend a hand. So in a situation where it takes two cars to do the job of one, when given the choice of a Panamera or Cayenne, we’ll take a 911.
Rich soccer dads everywhere drooling at their chance to get their hands on the
Porsche Panamera. Porsche’s first sedan has officially broken cover, but only in sedate colors like silver or blue. But now it’s your turn to give this sedan a little personality, with a virtual paintable Panamera.
Unlike the official color picker for the Ferrari California, this page gives 10 colors in any free form you want. At this page you can give the Panamera a nice two-tone paint job with matching wheels, or you can take the virtual spray paint and write how you really feel about the car along the bodywork. Either way it should provide a good distraction from whatever you’re supposed to be doing (ya know, like, working.)
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Picture Gallery
£72,266 ($99,237) Panamera S with a 405 hp 4.8-liter V8
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