Porsche Panamera Spied in Spain

Clearest photos yet

Finally one of our spy photographers was able to get up close and somewhat personal with the upcoming 4-dour coupe by Porsche, the Porsche Panamera. At last we can bring you with some new details about the much anticipated car.

The caught prototype is far less camouflaged than any of the earlier test cars and clearly shows the front air intakes (photo 4: close up shot of blue Panamera). From these new photos a computer generated image was created which might just be a close resemblance to the final product.

Details Panamera
Code name: G 1
Porsche’s first front engined, rear drive four door sedan
4x4 as an option
Engine: 4,8 ltr 4 V p. cyl., V8, 400 HP
– Top of the line Panamera Turbo 520 HP
Top speed 180 mph
Release: 2010
Hybrid version planned for 2011.
Production begins 08/ 2009 in Porsche’s Leipzig plant
20.000 units per year
35% for the US market
Price: between Eur 80.000 and Eur 125.000

Source:Lehmann Photo Syndication

Porsche Panamera: the lowdown

We've been spotting that old scoop favourite, the new Panamera super saloon, again. And it seems that Stuttgart's stylists are experimenting with a further evolution of Porsche's family face.

This artist's impression strips away the disguise from the latest spyshots, and we can see that a new ellipsoidal lens design is planned for the Panamera. Beneath the tear-shaped main headlamps lies a pair of LED day running lights (like on the 911 Turbo) incorporating the indicators.

It also appears that the Panamera will get a pair of Jaguar-style gills just aft of the front wheelarches. With Porsche's focus on engineering purity above posing, you'd hope these are functioning to cool the front-engined V8 engines, rather than merely showing off.

We've seen so many scoops of the Panamera. When do we see the real thing?

Prepare for more spyshots yet. The finished article won't be seen until 2009, when the four-seater will land in showrooms to compete with the sportier luxury saloons on sale. We're talking about the Quattroporte, XJR and upper-echelon 7-series, A8s and S-classes. Not to mention the forthcoming Aston Martin Rapide, the first four-door from Gaydon for generations.

Expect a concept car at one of the major shows in 2008. As the Panamera is such a different proposition from its existing sports cars, Porsche is unlikely to be shy building up its imposing newcomer. And you won't miss it: at nearly five metres long, it's a full-size saloon.

That's quite a show-off spoiler. Is it strictly necessary on a posh saloon ?

The aero aid at the rear will be a pop-up item. Like the spoiler on the Cayenne and 911, it will rise up at motorway velocities to assist high-speed stability, dropping down discreetly once you're pottering around town. This will either help you avoid the largesse of rally-spec Subaru Imprezas, or bring your attention to speed-watching policemen, depending on your point of view.

The shape of the rear lights is now apparent too. This artist's impression is based on the latest information, revealing wraparound rear lenses with detailing that suggets the back lamps will use LED lights.

Two exhaust pipes... this looks like a lower-spec Panamera
Yes, we've seen a mix of different exhaust counts on numerous spy photos of the Panamera, developed under the G1 codename. Two rear-drive cars will be available at launch: those with four pipes are understood to be the 500bhp turbocharged 4.8-litre V8; twin pipes (above) are assigned to the naturally aspirated V8, developing a lazier 400 ponies.

The Panamera will need all that power, mind you. It's expected to weigh a chunky 1800kg, so plenty of twisting power will be needed to ahieve the Turbo's target of 190mph and 0-62mph in 4.2sec.

In 2010, Porsche will extend the Panamera family with a smaller engined 300bhp 3.6 V6 and four-wheel drive versions will be launched too. Then in 2011, we can expect to see the 175mph hybrid Panamera, using much of the battery powered know-how from the recently confirmed Cayenne Hybrid.

The green option will be the most intriguing Panamera - a sporting saloon with 911 Carrera performance and Boxster emissions.

Ah, that's better. I prefer the Panamera with the spoiler down
Yes, it looks more subtle, doesn't it? And under that sloping tailgate (this is really a five-door, rather than a four-door) lies a boot that's said to carry 475 litres of luggage, more if you tumble the rear seats forwards. There's plenty of passenger space for four adults, too.

What will the Panamera be like to drive? Its suspension and brakes, and some of the body structure, are related to the Cayenne, but there is sufficient difference to give the saloon a character all of its own, say engineers working on the project.

Besides, there are plenty of technical innovations which should set the saloon apart from the bulky off-roader. Four-wheel drive versions come a year or two after launch, seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions are being developed by ZF, while composite brakes will be available and Porsche is also working on active dampers.

It's shaping up to be one of the most intriguing cars of the next 24 months.

Words: Tim Pollard

Though the Porsche Panamera's exterior has been shot extensively by spy photographers, the interior has remained much more elusive. Leave it to Brenda Priddy & Co. to end the mystery. Here we have what are believed to be the first interior shots of Porsche's four-door coupe, and what they show is a domicile that's one-part Porsche and one-part electronics store. Seriously, it looks like a Best Buy threw up on the dash. The center console is dominated by a big navi screen that's surrounded by tiny buttons - so German. Below that is something we can't quite make out. It looks like the HVAC controls with two large but flat ***** flanking a small display. Though the pics are blurry, you can clearly make out red and blue lines, which usually indicate hot and cold temperatures on an HVAC system. The gauges themselves appear to be the same as those found in other Porsches like the Cayenne, with two large gauges for the tach and speedo that frame a smaller information display. Two more smaller gauges hang out on either side, as well. The floor-mounted shifter, meanwhile, is nestled between two rows of four buttons each. Immediately aft of the shifter is an i-Drive like **** and another big red button, probably for the ejector seat. We kid, we kid. There are no doubt elements in this particular interior that are present for testing purposes only and won't be found in the final production version.