It’s no secret that i LOVE the Porsche Panamera. I think it is simply the most epic looking sedan on the market today. I know that many of you hate it…but I want one. Pretty badly.
Now, having gotten that out of the way…this velvet-covered Panamera spotted in London is definitely one of the most bizarre finishes I have ever seen on a moving vehicle. So………….is it possible to get one finished in Alcantara?
src: jamielester
I love the Porsche Panamera. In fact it’s one of my favourite cars in the world. Bold, beautifully made, and quite simply the best sedan in the world! Now it has a really beautifully designed Wagon to go along with it. Well….assuming this design makes it to production in some form.
e-Hybrid V6 + electric motors. 416hp. 65mpg. LED lots-of-things. yellow brake calipers. Do the details really even matter anymore? LOOK AT IT! The interior is amazing, and the exterior is amazing. Being a Porsche, you can wager that it will be amazing to drive as well. Das wicked. Nostalgia is dead. Long live now!
src: porsche
Amazing that this prototype is from 1988/1989…..with styling way ahead of its time in terms of swoopy ‘coupe-like’ rooflines which have made their way back into fashion these days with cars like the CLS, A7, and Panamera.
I am, of course, a huge fan of the Panamera. And yes i take a lot of crap for it from readers of IEDEI and my friends! ha. Quite simply, i think it is the most interesting sedan on the road today.
So here’s my take on what happened to the Porsche 989. Ulrich Bez, head engineer of Porsche in the late 1980s, proposed the idea for a 4-door ‘sedan’ which could be mass marketed as a proper german rival sedan to BMW and Mercedes. Porsche, pretty much sucked at business during this time; most people don’t seem to realise that Porsche were in BAD shape through most of the 80s—–virtually going out of business at one point! They had lackluster products, selling for too much money. Surely the 989 must have come across as a revelation of sorts! Unfortunately Porsche’s rubbish financial state and the departure of Bez resulted in the project being canned by the early 90s. Obviously it came back in the form of the Panamera.
So some of you may have seen the photos of the ‘original’ Porsche sedan concept, by Troutman-Barnes—-which may have inspired the 989 (minus the crazy suicide doors on the Troutman!) Here are photos showing the evolution of the design:
As of right now, nobody knows the whereabouts of the 989 prototype pictured here—-in fact I have even read that it was given to Ferry Porsche as a present—-however MY suspicion is that it is sitting somewhere inside Ferdinand Piech’s lost basement of lost concepts, waiting to be unearthed again! The car has NEVER been photographed again since this original german photo shoot…..
srcs: top speed, pelican parts, wikipedia, the petrol stop
Yes these are all expensive. Yes they are all on sale now in the US market. Yes, most of them are german. Yes, you could have probably predicted these a mile away if you know anything about me. Yes, I think they’re all badass and I want them all!
Here is my current list (in no order, really).
Aston Martin AMV8/V8 Vantage: I still think it’s the best looking sports car around, perfectly proportioned, small in size, and just beautiful from any angle. Just classic.
Audi A7: I used to think the Maserati Quattroporte was the best looking sedan in the world, until i saw an Audi A7 parked NEXT to a Quattroporte in California—-and the A7 trumped it in pretty much every way. Amazing and just drop dead gorgeous.
Porsche 911 (997): After the bulbous 993 and the weird 996, Porsche really hit their stride with the 997. Of course a brand new 991 is coming next year, which should show the 911 growing in size and stature—however i’m pretty sure the 997 will be valued for years to come, as most Porsches are after they stop production.
Audi R8: I have seen an R8 side by side with the Gallardo, and hand-over-heart-put-my-Audi-fanboy-tendencies-aside, it is a much cooler looking design than the Lambo ever was. The R8 has a much taller greenhouse, and somewhat of an awkward stance, but somehow it works very well with its bulgy curves, look-at-me sideblade, and big grinning mouth. The car looks much more sinister, grounded, and menacing in real life than it does in any photograph
AND where the shit hits the fan…
Porsche Panamera: I love the Panamera. It is a stunning design which has grown on me consistently with every passing month. I started off wondering how they could f*ck up the car so bad, and then suddenly found myself looking at it thinking “do i actually like it?” to now feeling that it is simply the most aggressive and creative interpretation of what a Porsche ‘sedan’ should be. Yes it is awkward, yes it is not nearly as chiseled and pretty as an A7, yes it is a bit over the top, yes it is weird—but it’s so uncool that it is savagely cool!
EDIT: THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOL’S JOKE!
Yes I will take the bold step—-against all the opinions which say it is ‘ugly’ i will come out and say that I think the styling of the Porsche Panamera has grown on me significantly, to the point where I really am digging the looks of it now. When i first saw it in test mule form, I was deeply disturbed. When the production version was introduced last year—-i thought Porsche missed the boat a bit, however after seeing it in person I thought it was an ‘interesting’ design albeit not entirely convincing. After some time and many more instances of exposure, I’ve had an epiphany; I think this is one of the most unique, compelling, and bold car designs in recent years. I think Porsche really made a bold step in designing it, and I can honestly say I love the way the Panamera looks in real life. I think pictures don’t do the car justice—-it has much more presence than pretty much ANY 4-door sedan on the road today. The interior, additionally—is one of the nicest interiors I have ever sat in.
Here is a wonderful Sportec-tuned SP560 Panamera. I think it is all types of hotness—-yes I know some of you will laugh at me—but i’m glad many deride it, so the resale value will fall dramatically! plan in effect….
IEDEI loves the Porsche Panamera. “WHY??” you say? well after seeing it in person, taking a seat inside it, and just admiring the boldness of the design and features, it was hard to NOT like it.
The Cayenne was always a failure in design and execution, although it has proven to be quite popular to the SUV driver who always wanted a Porsche.
The Panamera is a different beast altogether. It’s graceful, intimidating, and actually composed of quite a fascinating design. Want proof? Check out the Techart Porsche Panamera revealed at the Frankurt Auto Show last year.
IEDEI 
