"Development of the Panamera is on schedule and going very well," explained Wolfgang Durheimer over the din of the crowded Porsche display. Durheimer is the Executive Vice President of Research and Development at the German automaker, so he should know how the development of Porsche's first sedan is progressing. "We're finished with the design and the car is looking really sharp," he added. "We started with a brand new platform, the car will be state of the art and future Porsche sports cars will benefit from the development of the Panamera."
When the 2009 Panamera reaches dealers Durheimer pegs the Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes CLS and BMW M5 as it main rivals...
Before hitting the Porsche supplied lunch buffet, we wondered just how quick the Panamera is around the Nordschleife ("Northern Loop") of the Nurburgring; Germany's famous circuit where prototypes have been spotted. Durheimer took a sip from his Coke with no ice and answered a different question instead. "The Carrera GT is still the quickest production Porsche ever around that track with a lap time of 7 minutes and 32 seconds, but the new 911 GT3 RS is only 10 seconds slower."
Then we ate lunch.--Scott Oldham
estreka says:
10:35 AM, 01/ 9/07
That thing is going to sell so well. I just hope Porsche doesn't end up late to the party.
hondacura4 says:
03:09 PM, 01/ 9/07
Porsche purist complained about the Cayene when it debuted because they said it diluted the brand. Now its Porsches #1 selling vehicle. The Panamera should follow in the Cayene's footsteps, although it wont have the sales numbers of the Cayene but it will be a significant seller for Porsche.
LP
defected says:
07:01 AM, 01/16/07
I believe that the Pamamera will do well, regardless of how "true" the end product turns out to be, for the same reason that the Cayenne did: Porsche has a tromendous amount of brand equity to cash in if it so chooses to, though it does not look like this will be the case here.
I have always considered the Cayenne an anomaly, one that I do not think I will ever, as a Porschephile, come to accept. Of course, in retrospect, it turned out to be a brilliant move and a financial windfall; take a Volkswagen Transporter as a starting point, share the development costs and sell it at a huge premium without damaging your brand one iota! Rest assured, Porsche has made a lot of money on the Cayenne, money that has catapulted that company into another league (cash position, control of VW).
But why did the Cayenne not "damage" the brand, as many (including myself), predicted? Would it have worked out so well if the rest of the product line, the 911 and the mid-engined cars, did not remain so true to its DNA? Did the Cayenne project succeed because Porsche steadfastly stayed the course with their core products, thus keeping the faithful happy, while skimming people to whom it made no difference either way?
Things to ponder....