The final production version of the Porsche Panamera was unveiled at the Shanghai motor show Monday. Penned by former Saab design boss Michael Mauer, the Panamera will compete directly against luxury sports sedan newcomers the Aston Martin Rapide and Jaguar XFR.
Despite the coupe-like aesthetic, the 16ft-long Panamera will be a very spacious four-seater with 16.6 cubic feet of trunk space.
It will initially be available with a 4.8-liter V8, which in the S and 4S models develops 394hp at 6,500rpm. In the Turbo, power will be boosted to 493hp at 6,000rpm. Prices start from $89,000, rising to $132,600 for the Turbo.
Porsche says 0-62mph times will be 5.6 seconds for the S, 5 seconds for 4S and 4.2 seconds for the Turbo, which will also get to 100mph in nine seconds and go on to a top speed of 188mph. A cheaper variant will follow next year, powered by a modified version of Audi’s 300hp 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine.
Speaking in Shanghai, Wolfgang Durheimer, Porsche's R&D boss, denied that the company is planning a diesel or long-wheelbase version of the car. However, a hybrid model, using the V6 engine, will go on sale in 2011.
Source: Autocar