Porsche’s Wendelin Wiedeking announced in an interview just days ago that the automaker’s new Panamera four-door “coupe” began its testing marathon at the challenging Nürburgring over the last week. Now, spy photographer Brenda Priddy has snapped some photos of one of the first prototypes, still wearing heavy disguise. The entry-level powerplant will be Volkswagen’s 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine with 300 bhp, while Porsche’s own drivetrain will be a direct-injection eight-cylinder petrol engine, available in naturally-aspirated guise (350 bhp) and with twin-turbo (560 bhp). When it hits the road in 2009, Porsche hopes to be able to sell 20 000 units annually. In late 2005, a Porsche spokesperson said the automaker would unveil a concept version of the car in spring 2007. So far, Porsche has only released an official sketch of the car. Gallery after the jump…
09/19, 6:24 PM
posted by:
Me
I sure hope that speed-actuated spoiler is still under development. The basket look is not par for porsche.
09/19, 6:35 PM
posted by:
bacalao
try to imagine this car without all that blue stuff its hard but there is one nice stunning looking thing there and that poiler is obviously not gonna look that way. Are they gonna unveil this car at the Parsi Show later this month???
09/19, 7:42 PM
posted by:
C-Hole
There is no way that this isn’t going to be a hit. It’ll totally appeal to the Bentley crowd, and only will compete with both the CLS and Rapide (and the like) as well. 2009 seems too far away to me (two and a quarter years?) for it to be on sale.
09/19, 7:53 PM
posted by:
JC Whitless
I see one hell of a DARE car in this platforms future….
Or Porshamino!!
09/19, 8:51 PM
posted by:
???
I know its a little early … but I am not a fan of this design…. doesn’t look like the concept pictures… oh well… Porsche should not have branched into other car segments (it may help financially but it may hurt the image).
09/19, 9:01 PM
posted by:
mbftw
LLN, sure this isn’t just a stretched mule??
Otherwise…that’s the MOST half-assed job of a car I’ve ever seen.
09/19, 9:34 PM
posted by:
Shawn1982
Can’t wait to see it without the camo. It’s gonna look hot.
09/19, 9:41 PM
posted by:
A4
too bad theyre going to taint it with a V6 just like the cayenne
09/19, 9:42 PM
posted by:
A4
speaking of which, why isnt the 300 horse V6 the one in the cayenne, anything is better than that lethargic piece of **** they have now
09/19, 10:10 PM
posted by:
Dan the Man
I agree with mbftw. It really is half-ass. Probably too early to judge but from the looks of it …. it will need a LOT of work.
09/19, 10:39 PM
posted by:
VDuv Kux Klan
I dont think anyone on its full mental capacities would buy this weird and ugly car
09/20, 12:13 AM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
I don’t see anything particularly inspiring in the design. Maybe when the real thing hits the streets …
09/20, 12:44 AM
posted by:
k42rich
I’M IN LOVE WITH THIS BEAST!!!!!
09/20, 12:46 AM
posted by:
k42rich
The looks of this car is going to be SUPER hott!! a bit smaller than i thought, which is PERFECT! just like the 997Turbo: i’m in love!!
09/20, 1:34 AM
posted by:
Thomas
Like before, Impala doors. Hope that’s fake stuff.
09/20, 1:51 AM
posted by:
3aboud
can’t wait till they take these bulky stuff off it…hhhhhhh
09/20, 1:53 AM
posted by:
WonbyOne
If this is really not being released until 09 then this is surely a test mule and I highly doubt many of the final design body panels are on this thing. But you can still sense the muscle.
There really is no substitute.
09/20, 4:42 AM
posted by:
Webran61
I still cannot get over just how much that rear resembles the Lexus GS and Infiniti G35.
Maybe when all the blue tape comes off…
09/20, 6:16 AM
posted by:
More Porsche Panamera Spy Pictures - German Car Scene
[...] [Source: Left Lane News] [...]
09/20, 6:22 AM
posted by:
Ferg
wow, that looks nothing like the original drawings. i thought it’d look really good, but this thing is completely ugly.
09/20, 7:21 AM
posted by:
k42rich
PORSCHE:There is No Substitute. period. This car is going to be HOT!!
09/20, 7:59 AM
posted by:
gilby7
I loved the sketches, but this looks like a cross between an old Acura Integra and a Taurus. Aston Martin got it dead on with the Rapide, making a car that actually looks like a concept but it’s real (or, soon to be real). Porsche compromised too much with this, I think anyway.
09/20, 8:02 AM
posted by:
YourNameHere
these are photoshoped. look at the 2nd pic in the top row and the 3rd pic in the bottem row. look through the window. why is every other park of the grass moving expect for through the glass? also the spoiler in the top row pic looks fake. these pics are useless to me.
09/20, 8:04 AM
posted by:
YourNameHere
also 1st pic on the botto pic the car has a halo around the front end. these rnt real.
09/20, 9:37 AM
posted by:
Snopesman
I think this is one of the signs of the Apocalypse. You only need 1 more seat in a Porsche … for your trophy wife / mistress
09/20, 10:10 AM
posted by:
Bonquisha Sheneequah Sharkeesha Shi-thead Jackson
You guys are dumb, this is not a mule, it is very subtly but effectively disguised to ask its proportions and roofline. The black tape around the windows adds to the illusion that it is a lot taller and fatter around the rear.
It will look like the concept sketches believe me
09/20, 10:18 AM
posted by:
imageWIS
OMG, are some of you people for real? It’s a test mule! It’s design to test the underpinnings of the car. The car will NOT look like that; use your common sense!
Jon.
09/20, 1:20 PM
posted by:
GL1
Hope it is a test mule.. cause its REAL REAL ugly..
09/20, 1:38 PM
posted by:
Bonquisha Sheneequah Sharkeesha Shi-thead Jackson
Its not a mule
09/20, 5:02 PM
posted by:
Detroit Dude !
Is this the answer to the question that nobody asked ?
09/20, 5:26 PM
posted by:
imageWIS
It is a mule. If the car is coming out in 2009 there is no way they have the body of the car finished and are just using a mule.
Jon.
09/20, 5:30 PM
posted by:
Bonquisha Sheneequah Sharkeesha Shi-thead Jackson
it’s not a mule
09/20, 9:40 PM
posted by:
Detroit Dude !
Is it a Donkey then ?
09/21, 9:52 AM
posted by:
imageWIS
Repeating over and over again ‘it’s not a mule’ proves nothing. Come back when you have some rational points.
Jon.
09/21, 11:26 AM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
Worse. It’s a mule turd.
09/21, 10:23 PM
posted by:
k42rich
yall are some haters! that car is hot! blow tha doors off tha rapide! PORSCHE:THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE!!!