New Panamera spy shots

I see a lot of potential with this car. Perhaps it is just me, but it seems that Porsche no longer really has the passion for the 911 as a base car. Certainly they do with the TT, and they had a ton of passion for the Carrera GT. It seems they have somewhat forgotten the 911 honestly. I think this will be a great car because it seems to be a top priority and they are putting everything into it. Maybe when it is done they will go about really making the next 911 something to behold once again . Do not get me wrong. I love my car, but I can recall when the 911 was "the" car to have, a true performance setter. I think they have either forgotten that, or perhaps they are simply too limited at this point by the design of it yet cannot change it for obvious reasons. Maybe I am just wrong all together on all of that. Anyway, link below. I like it. http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enth...78.A10879.html

I disagree that Porsche isn't behind the 911. They positioned the Cayman to keep the 911 where it is. It just depends on where the company is in the product cycle. There was tremendous push from Porsche for the 911 when the 997 debuted. Now it's the Turbo in the spotlight. Of course the Cayman S received enormous publicity, but it is easy to see why. The market is bigger at that price point. If it sells well, it's a cash cow. As for Porsche building a sedan, hell I think its stupid for them to build a truck. I can not see me buying either a Porsche truck or sedan. It is not my vision of a Porsche. But I encourage everyone else to buy these things in droves. If it keeps Porsche financially healthy enabling it to build sports cars, I am all for it.

Fugly

After owning my 996 for 4 months now I have a new thought on the 996 versus older Porsche's. 20 years ago when I bought a Porsche for the first time it was 3 times a better car than 95% of the vehicles on the road. I now own 5 cars of which one is a Lexus and another a Honda. The 996 is not a 3 times better car than these. It's styling is far superior and same for handling but the others are just as well built or very close IMHO. There just isn't as big a spread anymore. The lesser cars got a lot better in these 20 years. I like the 996 and I love my 964. The 964 takes me back to a time when the quality difference was amazing and all the hand built details that the 996 doesn't have still makes me sigh. Thank goodness Porsche quit making hand built cars so they could stick around. But they will never be quite the same.

Not too bad considering it's all taped up. It give folks who have to give up the pcar for a growing family a chance to stay sporty with out purchasing a BMW.

I say, good luck to them. The reality is that the aging baby boomers are going to want wider seats and a cushier ride to get them back and forth to the early bird special, and it will be another decade until their kids are able to afford a 911. Porsche needs this car, even if we don't. -- M

I may need this car should kids arrive in the next few years. I like the idea of a 4 door, and I think the company will attack it with the true passion to compete with the CLS, and other high end sedans. I really look forward to this car.

I second that emotion.

It's like an M5 only better. Perfect for someone with kids that still wants to take it to the track for a flog session. I bet the top end one will be faster than the beloved 997.

After showing this to my car deisgner friends, none of them believe this is close to what its actually going to look like. I think this is going to be one crazy sedan, especially if there is a possibilty of the v10 going in.

I can't imagine it will look like this. That looks somewhat like the new Lexus GS. I anticipate something more like the MBZ CLS, which I think is a great looking car.

I think the final car will look a lot different than these interim "engineering cars". Also, I really feel Porsche needs a 4 door sedan to fight with the BMW M5, Mercedes CLS, Maserati Quattroporte and the Aston Martin Rapide. I hate to include the Mercedes and BMW in a group consisting of Porsche, Maserati and Aston Matrin, but they also have potential "porsche customers". cheers! Sid

I tend to agree. Until not too long ago there was a phot posted on Wikipedia about the concpt sedan (I forget the model designation) that was produced and worked on in the 80's and early 90's, but that seems to have disappeared recently. The concept looked like a 4-door version of a streched Carrera. I'm betting the finished Panamera will look like that.

It looks like A Nissan with A Porsche Tail. If I wanted A luxury sedan I would go S Class. Who wants A Ferrari / Porsche utility vehicle????Stationwagon????

If the enthusiast wants a 4 door, it's always been the M5 - this gives Porsche an option here, and it's a good thing for us. What's wrong with the early bird special? I love chicken fried steak...

I feel very confident if Porsche wants to put a sedan up against the CLS 55, M5 and the Maserati Quatroportte then I am confident it will be the one that I want to buy. I love those other sedans, but they are heavy boat feeling sedans that while sporty really fail in the true sports car category. I think Porsche can do it with a true 4 door sports car. I really look forward to it.

Had the same thought. Frankly, even the back end reminds me completely of the 350Z. But, I'm sure they're just working through the details and as was posted above, it'll be far difference in the final rendition.