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Official Panamera Pictures and Details Leaked
November 22, 2008
New pictures of the Panamera have leaked all over the web, and according to Jalopnik’s use of Google Translator on an Auto Telegraaf article, they seem to be legit.
First, the good: I like the front end treatment, the “power bulge” in the hood, and the rear fender line. I also like the tail light treatment. But there is plenty of bad too. I don’t like the side fender vent at all, it looks out of place. Also, at least in the photos, I don’t like the profile view from the c-pillar back. And what is up with that gaudy “PORSCHE” lettering and horizontal trim piece on the rear hatch?
The Auto Telegraaf article also spills some of the details on the car, most of which we had already guessed. Like the Cayenne, the Panamera will initially launch in S and Turbo trim. The S will have a 4.8 liter V8 with 400 hp, while the Turbo’s boosted 4.8 liter V8 will pump out 500 hp. They will also get the PDK gearbox. (No word on whether a manual will be available, but I bet not in the S and Turbo.) The base Panamera with a 300 hp 3.6 liter V6 will follow at some point, and I’d guess that would be offered with a 6-speed manual, like the base Cayenne. (Hey, maybe we’ll see a Panamera GTS in the future when sales start to lag, with some more power and a 6-speed manual. It wouldn’t surprise me.) No diesel is planned, but a V6 electric hybrid is expected in the future.
The car seems to be pretty big too, at 16.3 feet long and 6.3 feet wide. Porsche expects to sell 20,000 of them a year worldwide, with 20% of them expected to be Panamera Turbos. I guess we’ll see.
Like the Cayenne, I bet the Panamera will be surprisingly fantastic to drive, if you can (again, like the Cayenne) accept the styling. For now, I’m not sure how I feel about the styling. I’ll wait to pass judgement until I see one in person.
More pictures after the jump.
[source: Auto Telegraaf via Jalopnik]
Posted in Panamera
