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Eyal Binshtock is the unlikely name of the web slinger who’s constantly on my NSFW to create a regular Bestcovery feature (and permanent link) on TTAC. And so we shall. Meanwhile, his best bud took these snaps of the new Porsche Panamera on the PCH. I’ve yet to see one in the flesh, but I hate big butts and I cannot lie. Never mind. I can’t wait to put the Panamera through its paces. But then I’m a Porschephile. And I have a thing for ugly cars. You?
28 Comments on “Ask the Best and Brightest: Panameramania?...”
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The dumbest thing Porsche has ever built.
Doesn’t look so bad without all the cladding.
That thing looks like the spawn of a 911 and an Infiniti G.
Still, if it drives well, I could forgive the looks….maybe.
Speaking of ugly cars – I saw a BMW SAC X6 today…..horrendous.
-ted
The overall shape is terrible, especially in comparison to the Rapide, but the detailing is nice.
looks good to me. prob too expensive for me.
Looks like a bottle of Heinekin mated with some Bratwurst.
It just looks like a squished Cayenne. And that’s not good. Within the category, the Rapide looks much better because it’s well, proportioned correctly.
I’ll take an XFR and a C6, although that’s not really the point.
It looks overly obese. And that’s not a good trait for a Porsche…
The face looks like a squished Cayenne, which is bad. The rest of the car–not so bad, but not great, either. a Porsche should look great. And this one, I’m like meh.
As for big butts, what is most important is the shape, not the size. But this one doesn’t move me. Isn’t going to move me. I mean, even if I win the lottery or write a best-seller, or otherwise acquire boatloads of cash, this is probably not the car I will spend it on.
To paraphrase one of the Flanders’ kids (forget which one) “OW, my freakin’ eyes!”
Straighten out the hunch and get a liposuction for that big butt and you’d have a handsome car.
Unfortunately, the way the Panamera looks now isn’t really appealing, although I’ll wait until I see it in the flesh for final judgement.
Apart from its looks, I’m sure that it’s a great car though.
Porsche Panamera = Dodge Magnum + $90,000.
It doesn’t matter that the car is ugly… it will sell for the same reason the X6 would sell if BMW didn’t sell 3, 5 and 7 series cars.
My understanding is that Porsche is still the most profitable car company in the world. I don’t see this fat assed disaster changing any of that great profitability.
“Porsche Panamera = Dodge Magnum + $90,000.”
Absolutely correct. Absolutely.
It has grown on me. It’ll do well enough considering the price point.
In an earlier comment, on this vehicle, I think I said something like “I thought it would be difficult to ‘out-ugly’ the Cayenne.”
But, I have to say that this car is really growing on me.
p.s. The only two Porsches I ever was partial to were the 959 ((because it was so cooool)) and the Carrera-GT ((because it was soooo sexy/beautiful)).
It certainly is an odd design – looking a bit like a stretched 911 and certainly doesn’t have the aggressive look of its other German competitors. Porsche claims that form always follows function but I am not so sure – if that we true they would put the 911 engine in the middle.
But if it drives well then all will be forgiven.
The three non automotive cogniscenti staff members in my workplace here were surprisingly enthusiastic about the three very lighly disguised Panamera prototypes that were parked at the nearby gas pumps about a year ago.
To their eyes, apararently, the proportions were not particularly awkward.
I do admit, to my eyes the overall shape is some how somewhat non-harmonious. Considering the constraints dictated by 4-door, four place seating, it is actually about as 911 svelte as it can possibly be.
“But if it drives well then all will be forgiven.” I’d say “drives well” is merely the starting point for buyers’ assessment of this vehicle. The Cayenne, not a favorite of most of the B&B, has that parameter covered.
fincar1 – I doubt the Cayenne even comes close to the road performance of the Panamera – by “well” I mean close to a 911 not an SUV.
I think it will fail. It could have sold a few years ago, but I don’t think it will be a big hit. Of course, I don’t have a crystal ball or other sure thing meter like many of the other posters apparently do. :)
They will sell some, maybe not lose their shirts, and have to go back to the drawing board. Heck, the new Z4 looks good, and it’s evolved from a dog ugly car. It could happen here.
It really should have a “What’s Wrong With This Picture” headline.
My vision must be getting bad. I thought that was a picture of a Buick that rear ended an obese 911.
Porsche has backed themselves into a corner when it comes to automotive design. Jeremy Clarkson calls the Porsche design team lazy, but I’d rather call them frightened (although they can’t possibly work very long hours). Frightened to do any changes that might make the end result not look like the Porsche people expect to see. And that is something that keeps getting worse over time.
The reaction from people when Jeep went from round to square headlights on the Wranger is nothing compared to what would happen if Porsche decided to shake things up a bit.
As a result, all cars in the Porsche lineup keep looking the same, year after year. Slightly bigger, longer or higher, but that’s about it. Great if you like that particular style (and want people to mistaken your 15 year old car for the newest model), but boring if you ask me.
Look at how the Corvette has been treated. Put a old Stingray next to the newest Vette and you can clearly see that they are a part of a common heritage, albeit looking very different. That to me is a bigger accomplishment than what Porsche has done.
The Panamera looks EXACTLY the way everybody expected it to look. ANYBODY could have come up with that design. It’s about as inspiring and fresh as a stretched Hummer.
i think the issue is porsche tried to be different in the past with very middling to poor results
the 928 was supposed to replace the 911
back then they saw that the 911 was an evolutionary dead end
and how did the 924, 944, 968 fare?
not too well? not as well as expected?
porsche aren’t in the habit of killing the goose that laid the golden egg
Do I detect sour grapes amongst these comments? I’d buy a Panamera in a heartbeat if I could afford it. But I’d still keep my 928S4.
If I see ” NSFW ” even one more time, I’m gonna puke.
Those who’ve driven the current Cayenne Turbo know that it drives nicer than the majority of large 4-door sedans. I of course exclude the likes of S-class/7-series/A8s. They ride better and handle as well – just.
The Panamera will almost certainly be an even nicer drive. It will be quicker and handle better than the Cayenne. It is after all lighter and has a lower center of gravity; and it is not burdened with all the hardware that makes the Cayenne a capable all-terrain vehicle.
I wish it looked better. I’ve come to like the Cayenne’s looks; not sure the Panamera will ever grow on me. I expect to see it live – test-drive it – within the year. Who knows, I may decide to replace the Cayenne with it after that. I didn’t think I’d want the Cayenne till I actually drove it.
As for comparing it to the 911. . . Not fair.