Roughly nine months before the actual market launch, Porsche has released the first official photos of the Panamera in its final look. The car manufacturer has developed power units for the new car - the V-engines within the engine compartment come with six and eight cylinders and range in power from 221 to 368 kW. Some of the engines use turbocharger technology, Direct Fuel Injection making them both fuel-efficient and powerful all in one. The flow of power to the wheels goes either through a manual six-speed gearbox or the new seven-speed Double-Clutch Gearbox, the so called Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK). In addition to rear-wheel drive, the top version of the Panamera comes with all-wheel drive, which is also available for the other versions as an option. As a further highlight, Porsche is preparing a particularly fuel-efficient version of the model with hybrid drive. According to the company further details on the engines, transmissions, performance and equipment will be disclosed next spring.
The designers of the Panamera have succeeded in positioning this unique car as a new and truly different model while nevertheless retaining the looks of a typical Porsche. Through its proportions alone, the car stands out clearly in its market segment: measuring 1931 millimetres in width, the model is wider, and measuring 1418 millimetres in height, lower than comparable four-door models. The unmistakable, sleek GT silhouette is created by the car's overall length of 4970 millimetres and short, sporting overhangs front and rear. In its styling and details, the Panamera follows the design philosophy refined over decades on the 911 and successfully implemented also on the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne.
The Porsche Panamera will be built at the company's Leipzig Plant (Germany). While the engines featured in the vehicle are built at the car manufacturer's Main Plant in Zuffenhausen (Germany), the painted bodyshells will be supplied by the Volkswagen Plant in Hanover (Germany). The Leipzig Plant will then assemble the new Porsche model for final delivery. The Panamera will be making its world debut in spring 2009 and the first models will be at dealers worldwide in late summer of next year.
2009 Porsche Panamera will be initially offered with a choice of three engines a 3.6-liter 300hp V6 outsourced from the 2009 Porsche Cayenne luxury SUV, a 4.8-liter 405hp V8, which is also available for the 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia, and a turbocharged version of the same powerplant currently powering the 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Sources say that there is also a hybrid-powered version of the supercar in the works. Considering Porsche's sudden love for diesel engines, there is a good chance that the company will finally start selling a Panamera equipped with a V12 TDI diesel engine borrowed from the Audi Q7 SUV.
