Stuttgart, Germany — Porsche upset many of its die hard followers when it launched the Cayenne SUV earlier in the decade, and already there is a chorus of disgust from the faithful regarding the German marque's latest vehicle, the Panamera.
The all-new Porsche undergoing testing was recently spotted by KGP photographers with only minimal camouflage and these photos give us the first real insight into how the new model will look.
Expected to compete against vehicles such as BMW's upcoming 8 Series, the Maserati Quattroporte, and Mercedes 4-door coupe, the CLS-Class, the Panamera will be powered by a front-mounted V8 engine likely to be derived from the Cayenne's 4.5-litre nat atmo and turbo mills.
The Panamera has been spotted testing on various race tracks in Europe over the last few years, but for the most part it has been heavily disguised. These images show for the first time a clear picture of how the new model will look.
The front end gets headlights that are less iconic than the 911, but more dynamic, taking a leaf from the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, and the overall shape could be described as adhering to the Porsche design blueprint.
It's got a long hood, and a strong and curvaceous shoulder line that starts at the headlights and ends at the brake lights - a clear sign of Porsche heritage - as is the lift-back rear end and rising rear window line.
It's evident that the new car will offer lots of room for rear seat passengers thanks to its stretched body, though the sloping roof line towards the rear may cause problems for taller rear passengers in terms of headroom.
The new Porsche Panamera is a front-engined grand tourer, or GT, that has 4-doors. The car deviates from the 911's rear mounted engine, 2-door sports car layout, and though Porsche purists are crying foul, suggesting the car dilutes the brand, it is a sign that Porsche is no longer happy to dabble in niche new car markets.
Since the Cayenne arrived on the luxury SUV scene it's increased Porsche sales significantly, and the new Panamera could provide another sales boost for one of Germany's most profitable automakers.
Has Porsche made a wise decision in developing a 4-door grand tourer? Let us know on our letters page.
Currently the Panamera is expected to be a 2010 model year vehicle to be launched in Europe in 2009.
Porsche Panamera
The Panamera retains the traditional
Porsche front end, but the car is long
This CGI render shows how the
production version could appear