Spy photos of Porsche’s four-door Panamera have flowed steady for the past couple of years, but these recent shots from Brenda Priddy’s shooters show the Panamera closer to its production look than we’ve yet seen.
Scheduled for debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, the Panamera looks to fulfill Porsche’s response to the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the forthcoming Aston Martin Rapide. While carrying design elements from the rear-engine 911 range, the Panamera will offer three front-engine options set well behind the vehicle’s front axle, Priddy says.
The entry-level powerplant will be a Volkswagen 3.5L six-cylinder putting out 300 hp, while a Porsche direct-injection eight-cylinder offering 350 hp and a twin-turbo outputting 560 hp are also available. There’s also the distant possibility of offering the 700hp 10-cylinder from the Carerra GT in case Mercedes-Benz decides to fortify the CLS.
Priddy says Porsche is aiming at a new target, that of a true sportscar with four full seats, easy access to the rear and a good-sized luggage compartment. When it hits the road in 2009, Porsche hopes to sell 20,000 units annually. An “entry-level” Panamera is expected to sell for nearly $130,000, while the twin-turbo will inch towards $200,000.
