The Porsche Panamera is finally coming out into the light. For almost two years, Panamera prototypes have been charging around the Nurburgring and other haunts, loaded-up with camo. These are the best spy shots yet of the new front-engine, four door Porsche.
Now much more evident are 911-style side window arc and the elongated headlights that appear to take cues from those on the 996 generation 911s. Large, oval-shaped taillights move into to the car's rear flanks. Obviously the rear spoiler is not done. We wouldn't be surprised to see it retract into the bodywork and deploy as speeds increase for the production version.
Like the Cayenne before it, many have questioned the wisdom of the Panamera as well as its looks, but the four-door coupe is expected to battle for market share with several vehicles similar in scope such as the coming Aston Martin Rapide and the present Mercedes-Benz CLS. It's a growing niche where Porsche clearly believes it must compete with other high end brands.
Its V-8 engines will reportedly be from the Cayenne, naturally aspirated (385 hp) and turbocharged (500 hp) versions of the 4.8-liter V-8, and Porsche certainly has the capability to raise the power for each by launch. There are also rumors of the Cayenne's V-6 option being available as well as a top-of-the-range version of the block that powers the Porsche Carrera GT. Porsche's Leipzig factory will build the vehicle alongside the Cayenne.
Panamera is reportedly still on schedule for a 2009 calendar year debut as a 2010 model year vehicle, with its premiere rumored to be at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The automaker hopes to sell some 20,000 a year world wide when it hits the market.