In today's world, the name of the game is marketing. The more people that hear about your product, the better chances you have of achieving higher sales. Porsche is no exception to the rule as the German automaker constantly reminds us that it has presented the new Panamera sports sedan. This time, the Stuttgart-based company published a two-and-a-half minute long promotional video of its Gran Turismo filmed on the road. Can't say we liked it, but check out it for yourselves after the jump.
The new Porsche Panamera is like the acne-laced dork in high school who helps you study, or perhaps buys you beer: by God he's ugly, but he plays an important role. After all, the Panamera is not a redundant vehicle in an inundated lineup, but rather a double-edged sword whose goal is to expand Porsche's model range and battle other saloons in the fashionista segment. Right now you're asking yourself if I'm confused; an ugly yet fashionable car? Read on.
Coming from the company whose backbone is the 911, the Panamera's design was bound to be influenced by Porsche's most recognizable model (like every other vehicle in the lineup). However, instead of drawing inspiration from the 911, the designers butchered one. I mean, these guys really Quasimodo'd the thing.
They took a 911, gave it a hunch, and then threw it on the rack, stretching it to accommodate two extra doors. The only painless detail of the whole exterior is the Transformer-style spoiler on the Turbo. It's a neat, if not purchase-inspiring, feature.
Sadly, a spoiler alone can not prevent the end result: an eye-watering Porsche hatchback. Now that we've established that this beast couldn't possibly get off the lot on its good looks, what are its selling points? For those, people will have to look beneath the surface, because with the Panamera it's what's on the inside that counts.
For starters, there's the variety of power plants. From the upcoming V6 (necessary to make that 20,000 units per year a reality) to the naturally-aspirated and turbo'd V8s, there are enough options to help the Panamera keep pace with anything from the E-Class-in-a-tux CLS to Aston's upcoming Rapide.
Then there's the passenger's quarters. The attractive cockpit looks like it evolved from the 928, while the rear occupants get their own fully-adaptable reclining buckets (divided by a center console, of course). The superb interior, matched with a broad range of great power trains, does the job of locking in the Panamera's status as a grand touring saloon regardless of the deformed shell it resides in. Remember, in the grand touring luxo-fashion segment, beauty is not necessarily always the goal; being controversial is.
Ultimately, we have to ask: Is a fugly Porsche saloon worth the hit to brand image? Unfortunately, yes. From the start, the Panamera was destined to play two roles: range-expander and fashion-saloon fighter. In these cases, it hits home with a bullet. It will bring more people into dealerships, it can run with the competition, and it will be a conversation piece wherever it rears its hunch. It is a low-slung, four-seat Porsche "family car", and it doesn't try to tell anyone differently.
While purists may bitch and moan with their PORSCHE SOLD OUT signs, the fact is that they will never outweigh the swooning nouveau riche enough to justify not expanding. I may not like it, but I get it. It's just good business sense. Besides, if a buyer wants elegant subtlety, they can go grab a BMW 5-Series.
By Phil Alex
Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985, yet for reasons unbeknownst to him moved to South Carolina. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had a strange obsession with cars and travel. When not back in Sparkle City, he resides near Japan's international airport in Narita. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded. Oh, and if for any reason you are inclined to vent some more, check out more of his posts on the Examiner here.
Pride of place on Porsche's stand is the new Panamera sports saloon that made its world premiere today at the Shanghai Auto Show. The five-door model that can seat up to four-passengers will compete head on with Aston Martin's forthcoming Rapide and the Maserati Quattroporte. The Panamera, which was penned by Saab's former chief designer Michael Mauer -now you know who to blame- will be initially offered with two 4.8-liter V8 engines producing 400 and 500HP. Sales are set to begin in most markets in the fall of 2009. 
The global premiere of the Porsche Panamera in Shanghai today also brought along new video of the five-door sports saloon. Glamour shots aside, the eight-minute long promotional film includes driving footage as well as a tour of Porsche's Leipzig factory in Germany that builds the Panamera. Available initially with two V8 engines producing 400 and 500HP, the Panamera will be entering the market in Europe, South America and parts of Asia in September 2009, in North America and Australia in October, and in China in early 2010.
The new Porsche Panamera made its world debut today in China a few hours ahead of the 'grand opening' of the Shanghai Auto Show on Monday, April 20, marking the growing importance of the Chinese market for Porsche and other automakers. The German firm's first ever sports saloon, which is the fourth model series in Porsche's range, will be entering the market on September 12 with two engine variants, a 4.8-liter V8-with 400HP available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive layouts and a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 producing 500HP that will be offered exclusively with all-wheel-drive.
A six-cylinder gasoline model with 300HP and a V6 gasoline hybrid version of the four-seater sports sedan will follow in 2010. Power to the wheels will be channeled either through a six-speed manual gearbox or the German firm's new seven-speed PDK double-clutch gearbox.
"Introducing the Panamera, we are entering a market segment completely new for our customers and we are once again consistently expanding our model portfolio," said Klaus Berning, Executive Vice-President Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, during the presentation of the Panamera in Shanghai.
Porsche has announced UK prices for its new Panamera gran turismo ahead of its market launch on 12 September 2009. The four-door sports saloon will be priced from £72,266 and £77,269 for the 4.8-liter V8-powered 400HP Panamera S and 4S models respectively and £95,298 for the top of the range Panamera Turbo that gets standard four-wheel drive and a 500HP twin-tubrocharged 4.8-liter V8 engine. By comparison, BMW's M5 saloon starts from £65,325 in the UK while the Audi RS6 sedan, from £74,550.The rear-wheel drive Panamera S is offered with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard while the seven-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch transmission is available as an option for £2,289. The Panamera 4S and Turbo have four-wheel drive and feature the PDK gearbox as standard.
All models come with standard full leather interior, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Bi-Xenon headlights, rear ParkAssist, tyre pressure monitoring, automatic dimming rear view mirrors, Porsche Communication Management with touch-screen satellite navigation and audio controls, and a Bluetooth telephone module – complete with cordless handset for use by rear seat passengers.
Also standard on all Panamera models is the 'Sport' button, which increases throttle pedal responsiveness, selects the 'Sport' suspension setting on the PASM, and the shift patterns of the PDK transmission, where fitted. Offered in combination with PDK is the new Porsche Auto Start/Stop function.
The Panamera S and 4S have 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, with a choice of 19-inch and 20-inch alternatives available, while the Panamera Turbo rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.
In 2010, Porsche will expand the Panamera's line-up with the addition of an entry level V6 petrol engine with 300HP as well as a V6-powered Hybrid version.
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| Power | Torque | 0-62mph* | Top speed* | Combined UK mpg* | |
Panamera S | 400bhp | 500Nm | 5.4 secs | 176mph | 26.2 | |
Panamera 4S | 400bhp | 500Nm | 5.0 secs | 175mph | 25.4 | |
Panamera Turbo 4.8-litre V8 | 500bhp | 700Nm | 4.2 secs | 188mph | 23.2 | |
*all performance data refers to cars with PDK transmission
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