Porsche Panamera: the hype continues
It certainly does. There’s been plenty of speculation about Porsche’s forthcoming model, designed to bridge the gap between its top-end sports cars and SUVs. Porsche currently holds the record for making the most cash per car, and combined with the success of the Cayenne with the school-run crowd, the company is rolling in it. So now seems like a good time for a spot of product development and these shots of the Panamera undergoing testing in Germany prove that Porsche is doing just that.
When’s the Panamera expected in the UK?
It’s not due to be unveiled until 2009, but prototypes are routinely spotted out and about even though it’s well over two years until launch. UK buyers will have to hold their breath even longer as the Panamera isn’t expected to make its way to Britain until early 2010. They will have to set aside at least £54,000 for the entry-level V6 model, prices climbing all the way up to £84,000 for the range-crowning Turbo.
A Porsche saloon. I guess it’s going to be quick?
Porsche isn’t holding back on the Panamera range. The first wave to go on sale will be fitted with the 4.8-litre V8 from the Cayenne and pack a hearty 400bhp, which is a pretty meaty starting point for its first saloon. Expect 0-60mph times in the region of 4.5 seconds and a 180mph top speed. However, the turbo will be serious business; equipped with 520bhp and 516lb ft of torque, it’ll be knocking on the M5’s door and arguing over the hottest saloon trophy. That’s not all though. Porsche has one or two unusual aces up its sleeve. In 2011 not only should we see a four-wheel-drive version, but also a softer, eco-friendly hybrid using the same technology that’s destined for the Cayenne. Expect the V8 to be coupled with an electric motor, so it can run in zero-emissions mode around town – or pump out extra torque under urgent acceleration. Clever stuff.
Any other new innovations?
Buyers will be able to choose from a regular six-speed manual box, or shell out a few extra quid and upgrade to a racy seven-speed twin-clutch arrangement related to VW’s DSG transmission. Porsche is being pretty modest with the sales figures; don’t expect the Panamera to usurp the Mercedes S-class and BMW 7-series dominating the luxury car sector. It only expects to shift around 20,000 units a year to begin with, but that sounds pretty cautious to us.