Monday 30th June 2008

Diesel Panamera Planned?

Porsche could bring out a Targa and diesel version of new four-door

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For those of you who are still trying to get your head round a diesel Cayenne it appears Porsche may not stop at sticking an oil-burner in its SUV. According to Autoweek, the new Panamera four-door could be getting a diesel as well, although we are hoping that it will be a bit punchier than the 3.0-litre V6 Audi unit that is heading for the Cayenne.

Audi also do a 326bhp 4.2-litre V8 diesel engine that would be another candidate for the Panamera, which may be more likely than the 240bhp V6. This is not the only news for the new Aston Rapide competitor – Porsche is apparently also considering a Targa version, which would be a standalone Panamera model.

The three-panel Targa roof would be unique to the Panamera and the car would retain all four doors. Autoweek also got a look at production versions of the base and Turbo Panamera and said both cars were equipped with front bumper vents ‘reminiscent of Ford Focus vents.’

We shall have to wait and see…

[Baffled Spoon]

The targa version sounds intriguing, I just hope Porsche do it properly unlike the big sunroof you get on the current targa 911.

[chunkymonkey71]

I think the Panamera looks cool, but still think that Porsche are diluting the brand a little.

[nrayner]

Is the red car photo an officially released shot or a prediction ?

[Bladedancer]

Porshe's next child will be a shopping cart with 1.0 engine...

Shame such a great badge is being diluted this way.

[your god]

I'm sorry, I know lots of people will buy this car because of the badge, hence why they are making a diesel version. But i cannot get over the fact that it looks so pony.
Why not save yourself a few quid and buy a Skoda Superb, or a 5 Series, or anything. I just don't get it. Why can't Porsche just concerntrate on making focused performance cars and leave the SUV's and saloons to everyone else. Thats what Porsche should be about.

[OJ]

Bonnet creases and side scallops are a bit generic and should have been left out, but otherwise I think its an unusual, but good looking motor in the pics... Although some of the spy shots show it may have slightly 612-alike fat bottom on castors proportioning

[Burnham]

your god said:

I'm sorry, I know lots of people will buy this car because of the badge, hence why they are making a diesel version. But i cannot get over the fact that it looks so pony.
Why not save yourself a few quid and buy a Skoda Superb, or a 5 Series, or anything. I just don't get it. Why can't Porsche just concerntrate on making focused performance cars and leave the SUV's and saloons to everyone else. Thats what Porsche should be about.

I think it looks great....Id rather spend a few quid over a Skoda Superb, or a 5 Series, and get a Panamera. Just cos its got 4 doors, doesnt mean it wont be a focused performance car.

[Road_Terrorist]

If they chopped it into a two door with a more sloping back it would be like modern 928. The only problem is it does look quite odd with the four doors, just like the AM Rapide looks not quite right with four doors. They could have at least fitted suicide rear doors like an RX8 or otherwise made the rear doors less visually obvious.

[morgrp]

Thats the first pic I've seen of one - Its a funny looking thing in my eyes - bit like a stretched 911 - Guess thats the porsche genes though - 911=911 , Caymen=squashed 911 , Boxster = back-to-front 911 , Cayenne = 911 on stilts and now this It will no doubt be amazing to drive and beautifully constructed like most porsche products

[simonrockman]

I think it's much more convincing than the Cayenne. It doesn't matter what fuel it burns, what matters is how it drives.

Simon

[Ginger2003]

your god said:

I'm sorry, I know lots of people will buy this car because of the badge, hence why they are making a diesel version. But i cannot get over the fact that it looks so pony.
Why not save yourself a few quid and buy a Skoda Superb, or a 5 Series, or anything. I just don't get it. Why can't Porsche just concerntrate on making focused performance cars and leave the SUV's and saloons to everyone else. Thats what Porsche should be about.

It's the very fact that they make SUV's and now 4 door saloons, that allows them to continue making great sports cars.

Without the Cayenne, (I don't care how much you hate it, the Americans buy ship loads of them) they would not be the most profitable car maker in the world.

Instead they would be owned by a giant parent company, like pretty much all other sports car makers, who would stick its nosy beak in, compromising design. An example of this is the way Astons and Jags shared the Ford parts bin for so long.

Car manufacturers need to change with the times if they are to remain viable. You may not like the Diesel variant (how many times do we have to have that discussion?) but if it keeps the company in a financial position, where it can still produce socially unacceptable sports cars, then in my book it's a good thing.

Imagine if Sr. Lamborghini had stuck to his original design brief!!

Edited by Ginger2003 on Monday 30th June 14:04

[chunkymonkey71]

Ginger2003 said:

your god said:

I'm sorry, I know lots of people will buy this car because of the badge, hence why they are making a diesel version. But i cannot get over the fact that it looks so pony.
Why not save yourself a few quid and buy a Skoda Superb, or a 5 Series, or anything. I just don't get it. Why can't Porsche just concerntrate on making focused performance cars and leave the SUV's and saloons to everyone else. Thats what Porsche should be about.

It's the very fact that they make SUV's and now 4 door saloons, that allows them to continue making great sports cars.

Without the Cayenne, (I don't care how much you hate it, the Americans by ship loads of them) they would not be the most profitable car maker in the world.

Instead they would be owned by a giant parent company, like pretty much all other sports car makers, who would stick its nosy beak in, compromising design. An example of this is the way Astons and Jags shared the Ford parts bin for so long.

Car manufacturers need to change with the times if they are to remain viable. You may not like the Diesel variant (how many times do we have to have that discussion?) but if it keeps the company in a financial position, where it can still produce socially unacceptable sports cars, then in my book it's a good thing.

Imagine if Sr. Lamborghini had stuck to his original design brief!!

A good argument! I hate to see the brand being diluted, but you have a good point there. Better diluted brand with great cars, than pure sports cars ruined by stingy parent companies.

[your god]

I think it looks great....Id rather spend a few quid over a Skoda Superb, or a 5 Series, and get a Panamera. Just cos its got 4 doors, doesnt mean it wont be a focused performance car.
[/quote]

It can't, by it's very nature, be a focused performance car. It will always be a compromise. I'm sure it will be a great gt car, take kids to school in it ect.. ect...
Personally I can't wait for take on the elctric city car. With bonnet vents of course.

[infradig]

If thats a real photo and not an artists impression, why did it take so long to design when all they've done is give the bloke responsible for the X6 a Cayenne and a hacksaw.

[Ricky944s2]

your god said:

It can't, by it's very nature, be a focused performance car.

Why?? Would you not consider the M5 as a focused performance car?? Sure its not purely track focused, but still a performance car. So why cant porsche??

[Huggybearuk]

In my opinion its hideous.

[ganser]

Nobody answered the question if that pic is an official photo or not. If it is, it looks awful. I'd rather have a Maserati Quattroporte S. Fast, good drive, looks great and rare

[dinkel]

I don't think diesel owners can be bothered with fast 'Ring laptimes . . .

[Agoogy]

your god said:

I think it looks great....Id rather spend a few quid over a Skoda Superb, or a 5 Series, and get a Panamera. Just cos its got 4 doors, doesnt mean it wont be a focused performance car.

It can't, by it's very nature, be a focused performance car. It will always be a compromise. I'm sure it will be a great gt car, take kids to school in it ect.. ect...
Personally I can't wait for take on the elctric city car. With bonnet vents of course.

In which case every focused performance car should should look liek and go like a Caterham/Aerial.... if that, surely a focused performance should only be a single seater.... pure nonsense 'your god'.

[Oddball RS]

"I think it looks great....Id rather spend a few quid over a Skoda Superb"


A few quid? what you been drinking? where you going to park the other four Skodas???


Its sure as hell not pretty and no Aston Rapide or even Massa rival is it? it needs a re-style or by the time it comes out it will be so far off the game on style.