Porsche announces four-door car

[limoncello]

CNN link on the new Panamera:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/07/27/porsche_panamera/index.html

Excerpt from CNN on numbers -
The company expects to sell at least 20,000 Panameras per year, according to the announcement, which would make it the company's most popular model by far. Porsche is currently on track to sell about 9,600 Boxster sports cars this year, about 14,000 Cayenne SUVs and about 8,000 911 sports cars.

Neat sketch - should be one slick car -

[deliriousga]

Looks pretty cool for a 4-door. I don't know about outselling the Cayennes though at the the $125K range quoted in previous articles.

[Rail26]

Mikey Likey!

[tqtran]

Originally Posted by deliriousga

I don't know about outselling the Cayennes though at the the $125K range quoted in previous articles.

Since the spring the target price has been $80-$100K, to compete with BMW 7series and Merc S class. Where did $125K all the sudden pop up?

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by tqtran

Where did $125K all the sudden pop up?

From another forum a couple of months ago. Porsche was discussing it with a couple of ideas for a 4-door. The 80-100K range would fit pretty well with their line-up.

[tqtran]

Originally Posted by deliriousga

From another forum a couple of months ago.

Which one? Do you have a link to the thread that states 125K? I would like to see what its saying. I venture several Porsche forums and I never heard of 125K.

[deliriousga]

Ok, I found the latest reference to it in this forum http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=214596&referrerid=27688

It references a January, 2005 article in the German magazine "Auto Motor und Sport".
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/d/77599 and http://auto-motor-sport.de/d/77671

It has the range listed as 100K-150K Euros (~125K-175K Dollars at the time) and has some good pics of a red Panamera.

Here's a link to a MotorWeek article from3/15/05 http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101990 with good pics of a silver Panamera.

This has been discussed in the 928 forums for a while as possibly being the "new 928". Since 928 production was stopped in 1995, owners are longing for a comparable replacement. The Panamera, with a water-cooled V8, hatch back and 480+ HP is the closest thing to date. Also, the original 928 was revealed in the early 1970's as the "Panamera concept car". The price range of $125K+ would be in range with the original 928. Mine was $65K in 1987, about $120K in today's dollars.

I know as a Boxster owner it's hard to understand, but to a 928 owner there just is no better automobile so the hope of a new model is huge. I can't explain it. Even last weekend when we were flying through the mountains, while it was a blast in the Boxster, I just kept thinking "I wish I had the 928 today". The gearing has a much wider range and being thrown back in the seat when you hit the gas is a nice feeling.

Here's a comparison of the Panamera to a 1985 928S:

[tqtran]

I always liked the 928 but I never quite got the whole "shark" thing.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by tqtran

I always liked the 928 but I never quite got the whole "shark" thing.

It's a shark thing....you wouldn't understand. Drive one and you'll get it.

[tqtran]

Originally Posted by deliriousga

It's a shark thing....you wouldn't understand.

Its no wonder people think Porsche owners are prinks.........

Originally Posted by deliriousga

Drive one and you'll get it.

Right, because 928s are so common that you can just go down to your local Porsche dealer and drive them all day long.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by tqtran

Its no wonder people think Porsche owners are prinks.........

Be nice. Like most of you guys, I'm an atypical Porsche owner. That's what I hear all the time "you don't seem like you'd drive a Porsche". I guess since I hate suits, ties, etc. and stay in t-shirts and jeans most of the time I'm undeserving.

Jeeps actually have a bumper sticker with the "It's a Jeep thing..." Living down here I see plenty of those. Besides, it's Ferrari drivers who are supposed to be the pricks.

Back to the topic...What do you guys think of the Panamera? Let's here some more reviews.

[BuffaloBoxster]

I think it's a better idea than the Cayenne. Besides, recently cars like the M5, and on the cheaper end the WRX and Evo, have proved to people that sedans can be all-out performance machines.

Put it this way, if it's got over 400 hp, does .90 or better on the skidpad, and gets over 180 mph why is that not a Porsche?

Although I do hope that Porsche try to make this car the pure performance leader. The M5 will be difficult to catch with anything under 500 hp and Porsche will need to work hard to match that pace.

[Brucelee]

That is a stunning 928. A classic, one of a kind kind of car in my opinion.

Good stuff!

PS- there is a nice conversion kit that allows the swapping of a LS1 engine into the 928. More power, less weight!


Hmmmm!

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

That is a stunning 928. A classic, one of a kind kind of car in my opinion.

Good stuff!

I'll let Ed know you like it. Yeah...wish that one were mine. That's the one I was behind in the GA mountain run all day. The S4 should be up to those standards soon.

[Rail26]

I love the Panamera! I love my Boxster, yet I think I would rather have a little more utility, but not drive an SUV (Cayenne). My wife and I go out to dinner a lot with our friends and would love to bring them along. We usually end up taking different cars because we want to drive the Porsche! I really like the idea of the Maserati Quattroporte (sp?) and I think Porsche would benefit from the same idea. I also don't think they need to be in the Horsepower race that BMW/Mercedes/Audi seem to be engaged in (420 HP in the RS4 seems a little ridiculous). If they focus on Looks/power/handling I think they will have a winner. Before I get the "Why don't you like horsepower speech", I do like HP, but HP is only part of the equation.