Currently reading: Undisguised: Porsche Panamera
See the most revealing pictures yet of Porsche’s first four-door saloon

Autocar’s spy photographers have snapped the most undisguised prototype yet seen of the Porsche Panamera, testing on public roads around the Nurburgring. Codenamed G1, the first front-engined four-seater Porsche saloon isn’t due to be unveiled until the Frankfurt motor show in 2009, yet the styling already looks complete.Ignore this black test mule’s black tape and you can easily trace the Panamera’s roofline, as well as spot the kinked rear-door and shallow window-line. The tail-lights extend dramatically across the body from the base of the hatchback roof, too.

Big and beautiful?

Penned by former Saab design boss Michael Mauer, the Panamera will compete directly against luxury sports saloon newcomers the Aston Martin Rapide and Jaguar XFR.Despite the coupe-like aesthetic, the five-metre long Panamera will be a very spacious four-seater with 470-litres of boot space.But Zuffenhausen is nervous. First impressions of the bloated rear end have been mixed, offending some Porschephiles. Even with this criticism, the success of the less-than-pretty Cayenne make boss Wendelin Wiedeking’s estimated annual output of 20,000 units seem too conservative.

RWD at launch; 4WD soon afterwards

On UK sale in early 2010, the Panamera will initially be sold in rear-wheel-drive only, with either a naturally aspirated 400bhp or 520bhp turbocharged version of Porsche's 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine. An all-wheel-drive system could be introduced for 2011. A range-topping hybrid version would then follow.

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Paul J 17 September 2008

Re: Undisguised: Porsche Panamera

Considering this has been on for a couple of days there seems to be very little interest, which seems to suggest that as well as being plain it's even uncontroversial. Now that Porsche have got the VW group maybe they'll notice that they already have a 4 door coupe in the Passat CC - and that even looks good too.

jskater 17 September 2008

Re: Undisguised: Porsche Panamera

= 911 front end + Cayenne shell with a roof chop + 911 rear end </= the aforementioned - 911 front end + Cayenne shell with roof chop + Cayenne rear end.... Would make a great hearse...

TegTypeR 15 September 2008

Re: Undisguised: Porsche Panamera

Paul J wrote:
I feel the time is right to have 'Sports' and 'Other' showrooms.

They do already, they're branded VW.

Seriously though, sports cars can still have four doors. The Panamera could be a serious good car, and its one that intrigues me. Whether it has Porsche's core values at hear is another issue. Certainly the Cayenne didn't, and I think this is more the issue with many people.