Porsche AG has approved production of a four-seat sedan as the brand's fourth nameplate.

The rear-drive car with a front-mounted engine will be called Panamera and debut in 2009. The name comes from the historic La Carrera Panamericana long-distance race, Porsche says.

Contrary to speculation over the past few months, Porsche will design and build the Panamera without a partner. The Cayenne SUV is a joint project with Volkswagen AG.

Porsche expects to produce 20,000 Panameras a year. About 42 percent are expected to go to the United States.

The Panamera will be produced at the Leipzig, Germany, plant where Porsche builds the Cayenne and the Carrera GT supercar. Porsche says it will self-fund the $1.20 billion investment for the Panamera, which includes development costs.

Porsche expects the Panamera project to create 600 jobs at its Leipzig factory and another 400 positions at its plants in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and Weissach, Germany.

Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking says the Panamera's platform will be developed at the Porsche r&d center in Weissach: "There are no plans for a joint venture with another carmaker, but to ensure the profitability of this new model line, we will cooperate more closely than so far with selected system suppliers."

Porsche would not disclose any details about the dimensions of the Panamera or its engines and transmissions. German car magazines have speculated that the car will extensively borrow components from the Cayenne, including engines, transmissions and the all-wheel-drive systems.

"The Panamera is a perfect fit for Porsche. It has all the typical DNA characteristics of a genuine sports car," Weideking said in a statement released today after the carmaker's supervisory and management boards approved the project.

Porsche did not give a price range for the Panamera.

Porsche released a sketch of the car with the announcement

QUOTE (seanery @ Jul 27 2005, 06:26 PM)

"The Panamera is a perfect fit for Porsche. It has all the typical DNA characteristics of a genuine sports car," Weideking said

Yeah, right...
That Wienerbin dude, wouldn't be able to recognize a 'genuine sports car' if he was run over by one (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

I'm still not big on this idea....the 928 was one thing, it was a GT, still 2-doors and all. A 4-door Porsche to go with the peppervagon, sheesh. At least this time they are giving us some hope with the RS Spyder and the new C(g)ayman. They'll never make everyone happy but it's hard to argue from a business standpoint when you are selling the hell out of the Cayanne not to platform/part-share with a Maser Quatroporte (sp) beater.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

One more thing, they'd better NOT race that thing in NASCAR (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/w00t.gif)

Cayenne sales have slowed, from what I hear in a pretty serious way... Hopefully they won't start losing money on that deal. Or on the Panamera deal, either.

--DD

Why not... Mercedes has its "4 door coupe" (the CLS). The way I see it, if Porsche can sell enough cars to stay independent, it's all good. No matter whether the cars have 2 or 4 doors.

Hopefully, they will come out with a wagon. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)



And then a low-priced hatchback so my 16 year old daughter can bug me for one. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

Dubbed the Panamera, the new model is expected to reach a production level of about 20,000 vehicles annually. A retail price for the model wasn't released, but analysts have said it could range from $125,000 to $175,000 per car, depending on the options.

(IMG:http://ae.tc/914/2porsche_355_81660-med.jpg)

In my opinion, the Panamera makes a lot more sense for Porsche to build than the Cayenne did. I think it will sell well if not priced too high. $125-175K is too high in my opinion. $75K is more appropriate. Not that I would ever afford that, but $75K sedans around here are a dime a dozen (plenty of customers).

Demick

It's no different than any of the mid sixties ferrari stuff... not much... along those lines..

It's a modern 330, just not really.


M

does anyone else see that Seanery's original post does NOT say four DOORS,
but instead says

Porsche AG has approved production of a four-seat sedan

I know, I know, Sedan = 4 doors, but I wouldn't be surprised IF Porsche were
to make a 2-door version of the Panamera, maybe that could be the GT!

let me guess, it's going to look like all the rest of them in their range: bland.

Looks long, too bad they couldn't do something a little closer to what Mazda did with the RX8. That looks nice for a 4 door. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

(IMG:http://ae.tc/STF/JACQ/Cussing.gif) Thought this had already been dismissed as false? .. C-GT parts bin porsche!

(IMG:http://ae.tc/914/panamera-1.jpg)

(IMG:http://ae.tc/914/panamera-2.jpg)

slap a 928 rear end on that sucker and it will look a lot better.

I was just joking about the NASCAR stuff, I see it just as an alternative to the Maser, CLS etc. I agree that it makes a lot more sence than the Cayanne did. I know the post didn't say 4-doors but it sure looks that way from the sketch Porsche had in the press release.

This bad idea has been around since the 928. IMHO: Panamera = Fugly. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/barf.gif)