Porsche Panamera: the disguise continues to fall off
Yes, we’re barely batting an eyelid round these parts when a new scoop of the Panamera drops into our inbox, so frequent are sightings of the big new four-door. But the disguise is slowly and surely dropping away and we can’t ignore the details that are being unwrapped before our eyes. If you have Panamera fatigue, we forgive you. But if you want to see the latest, and least disguised photos, of Porsche’s first attempt at a proper four-door saloon, then click ‘Next’ to read on. We have the full lowdown on styling and aero details such as the pop-up spoiler revealed in these shots.
Pop-up spoilers? On a saloon?
Yes, Porsche’s fetish for rising aerodynamic aids shows no sign of abating. The small flap pops up at speed and lowers when not needed to leave a smooth profile, just like on the Cayman and 911. Other details are becoming more obvious as the black cladding drops away. The curved windowline is now obvious and the rear lights, in particular, wrap around the back flanks. This shot also suggests there may be a Jag-style vent behind the front wheelarch; the Panamera is front-engined after all.
It looks pretty big, the Panamera…
It certainly is – nearly five metres long, in fact. So there will be plenty of space for four adults to relax in comfort. Don’t forget, the Panamera is closely related to the Cayenne SUV, sharing much of the 4×4’s suspension, brakes, body structure and engines.
How fast, how much?
Both Panameras at launch will be powered by the familiar direct-injection 4.8 V8 from the Cayenne. Take your pick over power-mad (400bhp, naturally aspirated) and megalomaniac (500bhp, turbocharged), the latter brushing past the 60mph benchmark in a scant 4.2sec. So it’s a pretty swift saloon, then. If you like what you see here, and many CAR Online readers’ comments suggest the Panamera has its work cut out, you’ll be able to buy the four-door Porsche in 2009.