Porsche has announced that a cargo-friendly Panamera Shooting Brake will be offered to American buyers in the next few years. 

Speaking with Automotive News (subscription required), Porsche's American market chief, Klaus Zellmer, said the car won't arrive for at least two more model years, meaning it could be a 2018 or 2019 model. It will be based on the next-generation Panamera expected for the 2017 model year.

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The Shooting Brake, which in the case of the Panamera will essentially be a wagon, will offer an alternative to the company's Cayenne for those buyers looking for a sporty load-lugger. Prototypes have already been spotted in the wild.

2017 Porsche Panamera shooting brake spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

2017 Porsche Panamera shooting brake spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

Zellmer admitted to the trade journal that wagons have had limited appeal in the American market.

"We are confident that this car will be well received here, despite the fact that this country doesn't really like hatchbacks or wagons," Zellmer said in the interview.

The Panamera Shooting Brake—the name is yet to be confirmed—is expected to employ styling derived from the Sport Turismo concept car that Porsche took to the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Competition for the Panamera Shooting Brake will be diverse, to say the least. Look for it to square off against the Mercedes-AMG E63 wagon, the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo and the Audi A7.

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