Report: Porsche planning hardened Panamera GTS flagship

Automakers love to build as many models as possible from a single platform as this helps them spread initial investment costs, as well as risk, that can often run up into the billions of dollars. This is especially true for smaller automakers with limited budgets and low production volumes. Case in point is Porsche, which has just developed a brand new platform for its 2010 Panamera sedan.

The current range includes the standard Panamera, the sportier Panamera S, AWD Panamera 4S and the twin-turbocharged Panamera Turbo, all of which feature a 4.8L V8 engine in either naturally-aspirated or turbocharged guises.

However, next year Porsche will expand the lineup with a new entry-level V6 model and a petrol-electric hybrid, and there’s talk that a two-door Cabrio model is also in the works. Now, Autocar is reporting that a diesel version powered by a Volkswagen Group engine is planned and that it will be followed by a new high-performance Panamera GTS flagship.

When asked about the possibility of a Panamera diesel, a senior Porsche executive said: “There are V6 and V8 diesels within the VW Group that could be used as a basis.” That points to the same 240hp (179kW) 3.0L V6 from the Cayenne, or even the 322hp (240kW) 4.2L V8 diesel from the Audi A8.

As for the GTS, the hardened version of the Panamera would be based on the Turbo model but will do away with that car’s standard air-suspension and adopt steel springs in the same fashion as the Cayenne GTS.