The auto industry has become so unconventional, so bizarro world, that I became momentarily confused after reading a report that Porsche has a Panamera coupe in development.
Automakers don’t develop new coupes. They develop slightly more curvaceous versions of four-door crossovers and SUVs and call them coupes, but they’re certainly not coupes. Thus, I found myself picturing a curvaceous four-door liftback version of a curvaceous four-door liftback. Reality bent and flexed around me and the universe crumbled.
That’s apparently what Porsche is up to, though, and it’s looking like the two-door version of the Panamera — if built — will serve as a spiritual successor to the long departed 928.
The report from Germany’s AutoBild (via Motor1) claims we could see a grand touring variant of the Panamera sometime next year. Recall that Porsche recently stretched the model into something resembling a wagon — the Panamera Sport Turismo. The Panamera home could find itself hosting a threesome in a year’s time, though there’s a chance the model will appear under a separate name.
Joining this new two-door vehicle in the Porsche lineup is a much more obvious model, AutoBild claims, and that’s the requisite four-door coupe SUV — something Porsche, oddly, does not yet have. Yes, the Cayenne will reportedly gain a swoopier sibling, allowing its largest vehicle to battle the likes of the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
This model will apparently show its face (and carefully massaged rear end) later this year.
Much later, we can expect an electric version of the Macan SUV, riding atop a new, dedicated EV platform and housing three powerplants of varying grunt. Buyers would be able to choose from outputs of 215 to 430 horsepower. Range is pegged at 310 European miles, which translates into a U.S. driving distance somewhere in the low-to-mid 200-mile range — on par with the Jaguar I-Pace. The Macan EV should appear in 2022.
Four-door coupe SUVs, high-end grand tourer coupes, and electric vehicles. Yup, there’s no mistaking Porsche for anything but a premium German automaker.
[Image: Porsche]
Return of the 928!
I actually look forward to seeing it. The two door coupe, that is.
I was hoping they were going to do a two-door version of the mission e. It already sort-of looks like a four-door 911. It would look even better as a two-door.
If this happens it will be bigger and more luxurious than the 928. As always the German makers can’t leave any niche to a competitor, and it looks like Porsche is jealous of the Bentley Continental GT.
How are European miles different? KM? Imperial gallons?
When the 1st generation Panamera was introduced I remember reading there was coupe version planned, a new 928. Good to see that it is coming to fore.
“Automakers don’t develop new coupes. They develop slightly more curvaceous versions of four-door crossovers and SUVs and call them coupes, but they’re certainly not coupes.”
I think you have it backwards. Automakers don’t develop new sedans. They develop four-door coupes and call them sedans (and are then surprised when no one wants to buy them because the back seat is unusable for anyone except very small children).
Wait… ugliest Porsche ever, and they’re expanding the lineup? Bwahaha!
Uglier than a 914?
914’s aren’t ugly! Well maybe if your not into 914’s!
Absolutely. The 914 had the “so ugly it’s cute” thing going for it. The Panamera is just… well… yeah…
I’m thinking a coupe might make it work. Perhaps its just awkward looking because it has too many doors.
Persoanlly, I love the Panamera. Even more so after some track time.
And for the record, was always a big fan of the 914. A friend of mine had a very clean one after high school. It was a fun car.
Am I the only one that thinks those avocado calipers make Porsches look like crap? Yeah, I know, it’s a hybrid model thing, but come on…
Peek-a-boo calipers are the automotive equivalents of the human Tramp Stamp: unfortunate, and, extremely popular trends. Yuck!
I think a 2-door Panamera sounds great. I liked the 928, but it always looked a bit off to me.
Also, I think that the station wagon version of the Panamera looks better than the 4-door.