Tuesday 15th February 2011

Long-Wheelbase Porsche Panamera In The Works

Stretched Panamera is coming in 2012

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Not what an LWB Panamera will look like...

Porsche is working on a long-wheelbase version of its Panamera fastback-ey saloon thingummy for launch in 2012, according to a report in US magazine AutoWeek.

Porsche is set to bring the stretched Panamera to market to help satisfy demand from customers in Chinese and North American markets for extra rear legroom - though we doubt that making the Panamera leggier will do much for its already dubious looks.

All the extra length in the car would come from a larger door aperture and longer rear door (just as shown in our exclusive, state-of-the-art artist's impression, right) and should push the Panamera's wheelbase up by almost 130mm to around 3050mm.

That's still a fair bit shorter than the Mercedes S-class, mind which sits at 3150mm, or the Jaguar XJ LWB at 3157mm, so perhaps the established luxury limo competition need not worry just yet.

But what about the other, oft-repeated rumours of other body styles, such as a Panamera Convertible or a shooting brake?

Nothing doing just yet, it seems. "We've decided to wait until the second-generation model before adding alternative body styles," a Porsche source told AutoWeek. "We're already flat-out meeting demand for a single body style as it is."

[MogulBoy]

Can we have a 2dr SWB 928 replacement please while you are at it?

[adycav]

Loving your artist's impression.

A career at Auto Express awaits...

[Zircon]

Long Wheel Base Panamera?

Mmmmm - thats gonna look pretty! (Irony)

[anonymous-user]

So there'll be 4.5% more sick on my desk then.

[k-ink]

Who actually buys these hideous blobs?

[MrKipling43]

k-ink said:

Who actually buys these hideous blobs?

God knows, I've been stunned by how many of them I've seen.

[dlockhart]

Call me a purist but isnt there a contrdiction between porsche adn a LWB limo? VAG - please leave this to audi. No want wants a stiff handling limo, its just a recipie to feel seasick

[Riggers]

adycav said:

Loving your artist's impression.

A career at Auto Express awaits...

At least the degree in fine art wasn't wasted...

[Snoggledog]

That's a cracking artists impression. Riggers Van Gogh?

[anniesdad]

dlockhart said:

Call me a purist but isnt there a contrdiction between porsche adn a LWB limo? VAG - please leave this to audi. No want wants a stiff handling limo, its just a recipie to feel seasick

the article clearly says....

"Porsche is set to bring the stretched Panamera to market to help satisfy demand from customers in Chinese and North American markets for extra rear legroom"

I doubt they'll sell many, if any, over here.

[Beefmeister]

Is it really wrong to ask why the Chinese market requests all these LWB models?

Genuinely no offence meant, but in my experiences over there, 90% of the population are under 5ft 6

[RDMcG]

LWB is big in China...they have LWB Audi A6, BMw 5 series etc. Big market there.

[SAndals]

"Porsche is set to bring the stretched Panamera to market to help satisfy demand from customers in Chinese and North American markets for extra rear legroom"

Ho ho
How many Chinese basketball players are there? Also, can we now expect an extra wide Panemera for the US market to satisfy the demand for extra rear arse room?

[Dr G]

In a lot of Asian markets the buyers of these cars don't drive themselves, it's simply a need for comfort with status.

Good news that Porsche sales are still strong too.

[Mermaid]

anniesdad said:

the article clearly says....

"Porsche is set to bring the stretched Panamera to market to help satisfy demand from customers in Chinese and North American markets for extra rear legroom"

I doubt they'll sell many, if any, over here.

You need money to buy these cars, taste not required.

[Stitch]

porsche seem to be on a mission to demnstrate that the basic 911 shape and styling cues do not take to being stretched, blown up etc.

We get the message!!!!

A 911 needs to look like a 911, but why does everything else have to.

Jaguar has finally learnt that every car in the range doesn't need to look like a MkII or XJ6 (now they just look like DB9s!!)

Now Porsche, go away and grow some balls and take your new entrants into new design areas

[anniesdad]

Beefmeister said:

Is it really wrong to ask why the Chinese market requests all these LWB models?

Genuinely no offence meant, but in my experiences over there, 90% of the population are under 5ft 6

Cos that's what the Americans want...

[J4CKO]

That shape cant carry off the length of the current one, never mind a lwb version.

[britsportscars]

MrKipling43 said:

k-ink said:

Who actually buys these hideous blobs?

God knows, I've been stunned by how many of them I've seen.

I've still not seen one on the road! I'm glad about that too!

[anniesdad]

britsportscars said:

MrKipling43 said:

k-ink said:

Who actually buys these hideous blobs?

God knows, I've been stunned by how many of them I've seen.

I've still not seen one on the road! I'm glad about that too!

They've got presence....