Panamera one step closer to reality!

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Porsche is set to develop its eagerly awaited fourth model line -- already named the Panamera -- by itself rather than seek a partner, industry sources say. That would mark a departure from its strategy with the sport utility vehicle Cayenne, which it developed with German rival Volkswagen and which VW makes in raw form in Slovakia before handing over to Porsche for final assembly in Leipzig. Porsche says it will await the Frankfurt car show in September to reveal its hand for the fourth line, but industry sources said last week there was little doubt it would proceed with the plan it has kicked around for more than three years. "The fourth model line is coming," one executive said. "Porsche would lose face if the fourth model line does not come on to the market." Much is at stake for the new model that would complement the classic Porsche 911 sports car range, the mid-engine Boxster roadster and the Cayenne, which has been a smash hit since its launch in late 2002. Demand has been such that production of the Cayenne is near full annual capacity of 41,000 units -- around half of the more than 80,000 units Porsche aims to sell in its current fiscal year to July. "We have to invent a vehicle like the Cayenne again," one Porsche manager said, although he would not comment on market expectations that the new car will have four doors. Porsche, which has the car world's richest profit margins, will have to invest mightily in the project before revenue from it starts flowing in 2009. But it has the muscle for this. It was earning the equivalent of around 85 million euros (49 million pounds) when it decided to build the Cayenne in 1997. It earned more than a billion euros before tax in 2003/04, and analysts expect that to rise 13.5 percent to 1.24 billion this year. People familiar with the project say Porsche intends to develop and build the car on its own, perhaps based on building blocks provided by suppliers such as ThyssenKrupp Automotive, Boxster manufacturer Valmet or Germany's Karmann. The sources dismissed media reports that Porsche would cooperate with Magna Steyr in Austria on the project. The Porsche plant in Leipzig has plenty of room to expand output to handle the new car. click here for link

1. Cayenne sold well but hardly a hit in terms of quality. 2. Didn't know Porsche has the highest margin. Is this claim based on financial statements of manufcturers? 3. I thought Cayman is the 4th model. It's marketed as such. 4. Let's hope Porsche rolls out the sedan. I want one as long as it's reliable and performs like a Porsche w/o going over $90k. Leave the gimmicks like push start, ventilated seats behind.

Yes, it is confirmed that Porsche has the highest margins. That said, I cannot wait to see Ferrari's P&L. I suspect that Ferraris margins are even higher before you add the cost of its F1 program. I would also bet that Rolls Royce, before becoming a division of BMW, had pretty high margins, as did AM. As for cost, why do I remember the price as being +$100k. I just think back to the 928, it was the most expensive Porsche at the time, right? While purists criticize the hell out of this car, like the SUV, it will sell very well in my opinion. If I was in the market for a four door anything, I would pick a Panamera over an SUV any day.

I thought i remember seeing/hearing that this would be priced around the $125-150K mark, sorta competing(or being a cheaper alternative) with the 2 + 2 ferrari or likewise but having four doors.

If Porsche decides on doing this on their own without sharing a platform with VW or Audi, you bet this vehicle will be priced well above $100K. And good point by djlantive regarding the Cayenne's shortcomings in terms of quality. Makes you think, since a good portion of the quality issues, especially the software type, can be attributed to the platform sharing with the VW Touareg (at least from my dealer's head mechanic perspective). So hopefully if Porsche builds the Panamera on their own they can make it right from design to long term ownership, albeit the potential associated serious increase in price taking this approach.

My recollection is the Panamera pricing was speculated to be around $150K, and that makes sense to me (not necessarily enough sense to buy one, but sense in terms of the company's pricing), considering it will likely be a V8 based GT luxury/sports/touring car that would have to be well above 911 pricing.

Here's a pic that appeared on Autospies's web site http://www.autospies.com/article/ind...3&categoryId=1

Is there a clue here when the article refers to a new model "line" rather than just a model. That implies motor options at the least...but maybe more than that!