Porsche Panamera takes shape: it ain’t pretty

Newswheel staff :: 26 July 2007 :: Filed under Saloon, Porsche Panamera

It’s big. But is it clever?

The idea of a Porsche-built saloon car has always been more a matter of dollars and cents in the Cayenne idiom than about satisfying hard core driving enthusiasts. But we were still hoping the Panamera would be a looker. After all, the slinky CLS four-door coupe is arguablyMercedes’ finest looking model. Sorry to say therefore that the latest spy images of Porsche Panamera saloon reveal a distinctly dumpy design.

With relatively little camou or body cladding, there’s little left to the imagination. The Panamera’s glasshouse, proportions and roofline are all in plain view. Worth noting is the bulbous rear end, complete with a hefty overhang, enormous light clusters and hatchback design. The rear doors also merit close inspection – they’re, er, large. The Panamera is clearly a big beast and if nothing else should offer ample passenger accommodation.

Probably the most interesting design features are the exaggerated rear haunches. But overall, it’s hard to imagine this bulky looking beast matching either the Mercedes CLS for sleekness or Maserati’s Quattroporte for outright prettiness.

Of course, given recent rumours that the Panamera is heavily based on the Caynenne SUV, its heavyweight proportions aren’t all that surprising.

And just like the Cayenne, it seems unlikely punters will be plumping for Panamera’s on looks alone.

Engine wise, the Panamera is expected to be fitted with Porsche’s latest direct injection V8 petrol lump in both naturally aspirated and turbo trim with power in the 400bhp to 500bhp range.
 
The Panamera is pencilled in for a 2009 launch.

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