2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery
The past couple years have been a whirlwind for Porsche. The German luxury sportscar maker tried in vein to buy out the much larger Volkswagen only to come within a $700 million VW loan of bankruptcy. During that time, Porsche managed to hatch the all-new four door Panamera while refining much of the rest of its product lineup.
Nobody really knows what’s going to happen to Porsche product lineup once VW takes over the mighty little sports car manufacturer, but CAR Magazine in the U.K. seems to think that the change will be dramatic. Namely, the British site says the cash-printing Cayenne SUV and the fresh on the market Panamera will be on the outs when the vehicles’ product cycles end in seven years. CAR says VW chairman Ferdinand Piech is planning to take a more brand-specific approach to Porsche by focusing on the two seat sportscars that make the Stuttgart, Germany-based sports car maker great. One vehicle often rumored is a roadster that could slot below the Boxster in the Porsche lineup. The entry Porsche could be based on VW’s Modular Sportscar Structure (MSS), giving Porsche an entry level mid-engine sports car for the rest of us (who have at least $35-40k).
While it makes sense for Porsche to focus on core products like the 911 and Boxster, it also makes abundant sense to keep profits coming. The Cayenne sells in relatively high numbers here in the U.S., and the Panamera could well end up being a success story in spite of its controversial aesthetics. Seven years is a long time, and we could easily see one or both vehicles surviving beyond 2016.
I was once one of you, I use to hate the Panamera, I understand that its by no means a looker but once you're inside all you ever want to do is drive it, I was recently invited by PCK for the launch party of the Panamera and being a Porsche owner I was alound to get behind the wheel for a brief moment, it was the mid range Panamera 4S and all I can say is that I was astounded by it, if anyone who thinks that M5 is as good as sports sedan/saloons ever get then they oughta take the Panamera for a test drive, even the base model will blow you away, I can only imagine what the Panamera turbo feels like to drive, it just so effortless, its sublime and I think if Porsche could redesign just the rear end of the car, make it look less like a Boxster/Cayman and more like anyother Luxury Sedan then its a winner!.
on the other hand its obvious that they will axe the Cayenne because VW is a corporation and not an independent manufacturer, all they will care about is profits and since the Cayenne sells better the awful Toureg they have no other option, but as long as they keep making the 911 with the engine in the wrong place, its fine with me because the 911 is a living legend!.
