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  • 2010 Porsche Panamera Off To Flying Start

    2010 Porsche Panamera Off To Flying Start November 2nd, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, November 2nd, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 2 Comments

    2010 Porsche Panamera Off To Flying Start

    Porsche, the once unassailable leader in the sports car segment, has proven that it's not completely immune from global economic conditions but the brand is at a crossroads and a raft of new models could see it rise to the top once again.

    This turn around is being led by the new 2010 Porsche Panamera, which has already racked up 983 firm orders and will allow the automaker to record flat or slightly increased sales this year. This has got to be very good news for Porsche, which is coming off a year that saw sales in the U.S. drop 32% to 14,310 units through September after declining 25% in all of 2008 to 26,035 units.

    The information comes...

    Porsche, the once unassailable leader in the sports car segment, has proven that it's not completely immune from global economic conditions but the brand is at a crossroads and a raft of new models could see it rise to the top once again. This turn around is being led by the new 2010 Porsche Panamera, which has already racked up 983 firm orders and will allow the automaker to record flat or slightly increased sales this year. This has got to be very good news for Porsche, which is coming off a year that saw sales in the U.S. drop 32% to 14,310 units through September after declining 25% in all of 2008 to 26,035 units. The information comes from Michael Bartsch, COO of Porsche North America, who explained that the Panamera is bringing new customers to the brand and helping boost traffic numbers in showrooms. Porsche expects to sell just 1,000 Panameras this year in the U.S., with an additional 200 being kept as demonstrators. Next year, the automaker plans to sell between 4,000 and 6,000 Panameras in the U.S., accounting for roughly a quarter of worldwide sales. Beyond that, Porsche is planning a handful of new models and updates. These include new hybrid and diesels, as well as the next-generation Cayenne, 911 and Boxster/Cayman models. For a comprehensive rundown of Porsche’s planned model launches, between now and 2012, check out our previous story by clicking here. [Automotive News, sub req’d] Read More

  • Video: Tommy Kendall and David Donohue give the Panamera A Workout

    Video: Tommy Kendall and David Donohue give the Panamera A Workout October 21st, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, October 21st, 2009 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    Video: Tommy Kendall and David Donohue give the Panamera A Workout

    Fans of cars, racing, and motorsports TV will recognize Tommy Kendall instantly. Host of shows like Setup and Test Drive, Kendall is a real race car driver with an ability to present cars in an interesting manner. The video today demonstrates all of this behind the wheel of the 2010 Porsche Panamera.

    Starting with a brief walk through some Porsche racing highlights, Kendall joins Porsche racing driver and current Rolex 24-hour Champion David Donohue to put the Panamera through its paces on course at Laguna Seca.

    Along the way, they give a pretty good rundown of the Panamera's features and technology. See the SPEED TV video after the jump,...

    Fans of cars, racing, and motorsports TV will recognize Tommy Kendall instantly. Host of shows like Setup and Test Drive, Kendall is a real race car driver with an ability to present cars in an interesting manner. The video today demonstrates all of this behind the wheel of the 2010 Porsche Panamera. Starting with a brief walk through some Porsche racing highlights, Kendall joins Porsche racing driver and current Rolex 24-hour Champion David Donohue to put the Panamera through its paces on course at Laguna Seca. Along the way, they give a pretty good rundown of the Panamera's features and technology. See the SPEED TV video after the jump, as it's hosted on Porsche's Facebook page. [Porsche on Facebook] Read More

  • Video: Porsche Puts Panamera In Context

    Video: Porsche Puts Panamera In Context October 16th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, October 16th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 3 Comments

    Video: Porsche Puts Panamera In Context

    We've all heard it by now: Porsche purists moaning about the 2010 Porsche Panamera (and still carrying on about the Cayenne) and its non-sports-car nature destroying the brand; realists saying the Panamera is sure to sell in volumes that dwarf the pure sports cars, just like the Cayenne does. But Porsche has a third perspective on the matter, one that bridges the two camps.

    It's not the first time Porsche has made the argument that the Panamera is 100% Porsche, but the visual representation of past and present models alongside each other does serve to illustrate it particularly well. It also shows that, like many other modern cars, the...

    We've all heard it by now: Porsche purists moaning about the 2010 Porsche Panamera (and still carrying on about the Cayenne) and its non-sports-car nature destroying the brand; realists saying the Panamera is sure to sell in volumes that dwarf the pure sports cars, just like the Cayenne does. But Porsche has a third perspective on the matter, one that bridges the two camps. It's not the first time Porsche has made the argument that the Panamera is 100% Porsche, but the visual representation of past and present models alongside each other does serve to illustrate it particularly well. It also shows that, like many other modern cars, the Panamera is simply huge. Watch the spot then leave your impressions--on the commercial, the Panamera, Porsche, or sports cars and their sedan equivalents in general--in the comments below. [Porsche] Read More

  • 2011 Porsche Panamera Cabrio In The Works

    2011 Porsche Panamera Cabrio In The Works October 8th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, October 8th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    2011 Porsche Panamera Cabrio In The Works

    As super sedans go, the 2010 Porsche Panamera is about as good as you can get, though the styling is certainly controversial. Perhaps controversial is too kind a word, but there's a new version--or two--of the car in the works that could yet prove the platform has legs. Our preview renderings show that the styling might even benefit from leaving the sedan form factor behind.

    Officials haven't yet confirmed either the Cabrio or GT Coupe, but it's a logical extension of Porsche's design logic. With 14 different variants of the Porsche 911 available, it makes sense that the company would want to diversify the Panamera as well, and we've been ...

    As super sedans go, the 2010 Porsche Panamera is about as good as you can get, though the styling is certainly controversial. Perhaps controversial is too kind a word, but there's a new version--or two--of the car in the works that could yet prove the platform has legs. Our preview renderings show that the styling might even benefit from leaving the sedan form factor behind. Officials haven't yet confirmed either the Cabrio or GT Coupe, but it's a logical extension of Porsche's design logic. With 14 different variants of the Porsche 911 available, it makes sense that the company would want to diversify the Panamera as well, and we've been speculating on the idea since May. Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer has told several outlets the same thing, clearly implying more kinds of Panamera are on their way. The first two major variants to come are likely to be the Cabrio and the GT Coupe. Both will feature just two doors, in the case of the Cabrio, to help maintain rigidity, while in the case of the GT Coupe, to deliver a sleeker body profile. Both will retain rear seats, however, and the GT Coupe will likely retain at least a semblance of the Sedan's "humpback" rear roofline. The Cabrio is expected to use a folding soft top rather than the retractable hard top that has come into vogue of late. Officials haven't yet confirmed either the Cabrio or GT Coupe, but it's a logical extension of Porsche's design logic. A hybrid version of the Panamera is already on the way as well, though that powertrain is expected to be limited to the four-door Sedan. V-6 engines will also be coming to the Panamera lineup, and like the Sedan, the GT Coupe and Cabrio are expected to share in the bounty, potentially opening up the range to lower-cost, entry-level variants, including a spritual successor to the excellent but oft-maligned by purists 928 in the form of the GT Coupe. A diesel engine is also in the works for the Panamera, mimicking the diesel Cayenne, while a possible Targa top model could add a fourth variant to the Panamera's body type range. The Targa model is thought to be a three-panel removable roof built on the the four-door body. [Auto News - sub. req.] Read More

  • Confirmed: Porsche Panamera To Avoid Gas Guzzler Tax

    Confirmed: Porsche Panamera To Avoid Gas Guzzler Tax October 1st, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, October 1st, 2009 Nelson Ireson 7 Comments

    Confirmed: Porsche Panamera To Avoid Gas Guzzler Tax

    A few weeks ago reports emerged that the 2010 Porsche Panamera would be just efficient enough to squeak by without incurring the gas guzzler tax penalty, a happy thought for potential owners. Today at a Panamera drive event, Porsche confirmed to High Gear Media that the car will indeed sidestep the tax.

    It just barely clears the required mark, however, with a combined fuel economy rating of 23 mpg across the range for purposes of the tax. That's only 0.5 mpg above the floor for avoiding the tax.

    How the 2010 Panamera managed to secure a 23 mpg combined average isn't clear, as the sportier S and 4S models score 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg...

    A few weeks ago reports emerged that the 2010 Porsche Panamera would be just efficient enough to squeak by without incurring the gas guzzler tax penalty, a happy thought for potential owners. Today at a Panamera drive event, Porsche confirmed to High Gear Media that the car will indeed sidestep the tax. It just barely clears the required mark, however, with a combined fuel economy rating of 23 mpg across the range for purposes of the tax. That's only 0.5 mpg above the floor for avoiding the tax. How the 2010 Panamera managed to secure a 23 mpg combined average isn't clear, as the sportier S and 4S models score 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, hinting at a combined score closer to 20 mpg. The Turbo knocks another 1 mpg off each of those figures. If combined efficiency of a passenger car dips anywhere below 22.5 mpg, the tax starts at $1,000 and quickly ramps up from there, hitting $3,000 below 17.5 mpg and maxing out at $7,700 for cars averaging less than 12.5 mpg. The gas guzzler tax was formulated in the late 1970s and revised in 1991, but SUVs, pickups and commercial vehicles are still excluded from its scope, meaning only passenger cars are subject to the tax. Read More

  • Porsche Releases EPA Ratings for 2010 Panamera

    Porsche Releases EPA Ratings for 2010 Panamera September 10th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, September 10th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 3 Comments

    Porsche Releases EPA Ratings for 2010 Panamera

    Squeezing the most out of a high-end luxury-performance sedan is a fine art, requiring a delicate balance between comfort, power, safety and efficiency. Usually, if one factor has to give, it's efficiency, since adding any of the other three tends to reduce a cars ability to sip fuel. The 2010 Porsche Panamera is no exception, though it does strike a better balance than many.

    Whatever you might feel about its looks, the Panamera's EPA figures aren't downright ugly: the standard 400-horsepower Panamera S and 4S models rate 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway; the 500-horsepower Turbo only trims that back to 15 mpg around town and 23...

    Squeezing the most out of a high-end luxury-performance sedan is a fine art, requiring a delicate balance between comfort, power, safety and efficiency. Usually, if one factor has to give, it's efficiency, since adding any of the other three tends to reduce a cars ability to sip fuel. The 2010 Porsche Panamera is no exception, though it does strike a better balance than many. Whatever you might feel about its looks, the Panamera's EPA figures aren't downright ugly: the standard 400-horsepower Panamera S and 4S models rate 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway; the 500-horsepower Turbo only trims that back to 15 mpg around town and 23 mpg on the open road. That's highly competitive--actually slightly better on the highway--with the 2010 Lincoln MKZ we recently tested. Considering the Porsche is larger, more luxurious and far more powerful (as well as much more expensive) that's quite a feat. Taken in the light of more competitive cars, like Maserati's Quattroporte sedan or the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Panamera continues to look good. The Maserati's figures are a mere 11 mpg in town and 17-18 mpg on the highway, depending on whether you opt for the Sport model or not. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid just manages to edge out the Panamera at 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, while the S550 matches the Panamera dead-even at 15 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. Opt for the more powerful S600, however, and you're looking at Maserati-like numbers of 11 mpg city and 17 mpg highway. [Inside Line] Read More

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