The “First Lady of the Nürburgring” (better known as Brenda Priddy) has reeled in some even clearer shots of Porsche’s upcoming Panamera. The car isn’t expected to get its official debut until the 2009 Geneva show, but the car is already quite far along in development, as evidenced by this ‘Ring-bound test mule.
The new shots suggest that the fixed rear wing seen in other spy shots is in fact a moveable unit, and the rear bumper cap and taillamps already look to be production-ready pieces, even if the roof and window treatments remain something of a mystery.
Priddy’s people suggest that the base engine will be Volkswagen’s 3.5-liter six-cylinder, putting out 300 bhp, and upper-level Panameras will benefit from Porsche’s direct-injection eight-cylinder, available in 350 bhp naturally aspirated, as well as with twin turbos giving 560 bhp. Priddy even suggests that if competitors like Mercedes-Benz’s CLS continue to churn out even bigger numbers, the car could see a V-10 good for 700 bhp.
Porsche expects to clear its decks of 20,000 Panameras each year, beginning in 2009.
Porsche’s Wendelin Wiedeking announced in an interview just days ago that the automaker’s new Panamera four-door “coupe” began its testing marathon at the challenging Nürburgring over the last week. Now, spy photographer Brenda Priddy has snapped some photos of one of the first prototypes, still wearing heavy disguise. The entry-level powerplant will be Volkswagen’s 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine with 300 bhp, while Porsche’s own drivetrain will be a direct-injection eight-cylinder petrol engine, available in naturally-aspirated guise (350 bhp) and with twin-turbo (560 bhp). When it hits the road in 2009, Porsche hopes to be able to sell 20 000 units annually. In late 2005, a Porsche spokesperson said the automaker would unveil a concept version of the car in spring 2007. So far, Porsche has only released an official sketch of the car.
That’s not a production shell, there is a long discussion over on rennlist about this. It’s also been spotted testing under a modified cayanne shell and a BMW M5 shell with large flares.
I’m praying it looks more like the concept sketch than the shit we’ve seen testing.
But somehow I think the penny pinchers will destroy that one with shelf parts from Porsche and VAG.
It wont be AWD, it’s FR. It’ll be available with the VW/Audi V6, the Cayenne S V8, and the Cayenne V8TT, there was a rumor about a limited run with the CGT V10, but I doubt that.
there is just a massive amount of camoflage on it. it has huge pontiac-style plastic shit completely covering the doors and giving them a different outline. rear quarters and hatch are also completely covered, giving a different ouline and shape.
i still think anything other than a two door porsche is :bloated: though.
Your wording implied that it was a completely different body, rather than a camoflaged real one. Unless, by saying “That’s not a production shell”, you meant that it was camoflaged, but I’d hope that no one would need to be told that. Then again, people have surprised me before.
Anyway, I did a 5 minute photshop job on the one pic to see how many of those sketch curves could lay within the confines of the plastic cladding… i guess it has potential to look hot?
