24.11.2008
General office consensus has it that the new Panamera is better looking than most of us expected. What do you think? As ever, Porsche has employed the least talented automotive photographer in Northern Europe for these unflattering shots, but there’s more than a hint of Ferrari 456 in the front door scallop and the thing has considerable presence.
Read the FULL ARTICLE in First Look
Then let us know your thoughts
About Steve Davies
Steve is a media, venture, and technology advisor and a former Partner at KPMG Consulting, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Managing Partner at EIM - his clients range from global web and media companies to small start-ups. He formed Drivers Republic (DR) in 2007, the UK's first digital automotive magazine, with a team of EVO and Autocar writers before creating SkiddMark, and also writes as a guest contributor on Unruly Media’s Meme Machine blog and for Econsultancy’s digital marketing blog.
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36 Comments
James
November 24, 2008I agree that it doesn’t look as bad as some of the spy shots of test mules suggested it would.
However, it is still a long way from being a good looking car. I particularly dislike the rear end. Four-door saloon car with a hatchback? Are you kidding me?! I appreciate they’re trying to make a link to the Porsche lineage by giving it a hint of 911 sloping tail, but it just looks silly. I was thrilled by Porsche with the updates to the Boxster and particularly the Cayman, both look fabulous with performance to match. But with this and the Cayenne diesel(!) Porsche have just taken one step forward and two steps back.
Anyone who would take this car over Maserati Quattroporte deserves a good, hard slap. Sadly, judging by the success of the Cayenne I may have to get my slapping hand thoroughly warmed up as there will no doubt be plenty of takers.
James
November 24, 2008I agree that it doesn’t look as bad as some of the spy shots of test mules suggested it would.
However, it is still a long way from being a good looking car. I particularly dislike the rear end. Four-door saloon car with a hatchback? Are you kidding me?! I appreciate they’re trying to make a link to the Porsche lineage by giving it a hint of 911 sloping tail, but it just looks silly. I was thrilled by Porsche with the updates to the Boxster and particularly the Cayman, both look fabulous with performance to match. But with this and the Cayenne diesel(!) Porsche have just taken one step forward and two steps back.
Anyone who would take this car over Maserati Quattroporte deserves a good, hard slap. Sadly, judging by the success of the Cayenne I may have to get my slapping hand thoroughly warmed up as there will no doubt be plenty of takers.
Kermit79
November 24, 2008Well, I didn’t think I would be typing this…but….it isn’t bad looking. It is certainly more resolved than the Cayenne. I agree with the QP comment being a Maserati-phile. Any idea on prices, as this will no-doubt steal some sales from the Maser. I’m sure it will handle, but will it have the ‘occasion’ of the QP? Will be interested to see in the forthcoming write-up. Maser v Porsche anyone?
Kermit79
November 24, 2008Well, I didn’t think I would be typing this…but….it isn’t bad looking. It is certainly more resolved than the Cayenne. I agree with the QP comment being a Maserati-phile. Any idea on prices, as this will no-doubt steal some sales from the Maser. I’m sure it will handle, but will it have the ‘occasion’ of the QP? Will be interested to see in the forthcoming write-up. Maser v Porsche anyone?
Bryan Wenham
November 24, 2008From the photo above i am reminded of the Chrysler Crossfire, the car once rather accurately described as looking like a dog taking a poo! The whole thing just looks a tad bloated, especially from the rear. I dare say it will look more defined in the flesh, but when you consider the competition it will eventually have, not only from Maserati, but from Aston and Lamborghini further down the line i really think Porsche have let themselves down with the Panamera. Not that this will stop them doubtlessly selling thousands of the things!
Bryan Wenham
November 24, 2008From the photo above i am reminded of the Chrysler Crossfire, the car once rather accurately described as looking like a dog taking a poo! The whole thing just looks a tad bloated, especially from the rear. I dare say it will look more defined in the flesh, but when you consider the competition it will eventually have, not only from Maserati, but from Aston and Lamborghini further down the line i really think Porsche have let themselves down with the Panamera. Not that this will stop them doubtlessly selling thousands of the things!
Steve
November 24, 2008Frankly, I think its bl00dy horrible. I’ll try to think of something more literate in time…..
Steve
November 24, 2008Frankly, I think its bl00dy horrible. I’ll try to think of something more literate in time…..
jl123
November 25, 2008James,
“Anyone who would take this car over Maserati Quattroporte deserves a good, hard slap. ”
Brilliant!! Here is the US just the people who Porsche intend to buy this senseless monstrosity, and being slapped very hard and often!
jl123
November 25, 2008James,
“Anyone who would take this car over Maserati Quattroporte deserves a good, hard slap. ”
Brilliant!! Here is the US just the people who Porsche intend to buy this senseless monstrosity, and being slapped very hard and often!
solowmodel
November 25, 2008Mmmm..I don’t think it’s quite as bad as the massive outcry over the internet makes it out to be but it’s not exactly stunning. Somewhat like elegant hammer. Obviously Porsche and no doubt will be good to drive, but nonetheless just…podgy..
solowmodel
November 25, 2008Mmmm..I don’t think it’s quite as bad as the massive outcry over the internet makes it out to be but it’s not exactly stunning. Somewhat like elegant hammer. Obviously Porsche and no doubt will be good to drive, but nonetheless just…podgy..
judah777
November 25, 2008What’s the point ?
I mean why build it anyway?
I understand that Cayenne sales help fund the good stuff like GT3 etc., but seriously………
Since Porsche control VAG and Volkswagen already make the Touareg why not just utilize sales money from selling more of those instead of diluting the image of the Porsche brand with 2000 kg monsters ?
I personally think Porsche should put its V8 expertise into making a front-midships GT and a re-engineered mid-engined 911.
With the Cayman S finally getting a factory LSD the 911 needs to be re-engineered into a mid-engined design if it is to remain the top performer from Porsche;
Walter Rohrl himself has said that given an LSD and some more power the Cayman S will destroy a 911 around a track;
virtually ever auto-journalist has said basically the same.
judah777
November 25, 2008What’s the point ?
I mean why build it anyway?
I understand that Cayenne sales help fund the good stuff like GT3 etc., but seriously………
Since Porsche control VAG and Volkswagen already make the Touareg why not just utilize sales money from selling more of those instead of diluting the image of the Porsche brand with 2000 kg monsters ?
I personally think Porsche should put its V8 expertise into making a front-midships GT and a re-engineered mid-engined 911.
With the Cayman S finally getting a factory LSD the 911 needs to be re-engineered into a mid-engined design if it is to remain the top performer from Porsche;
Walter Rohrl himself has said that given an LSD and some more power the Cayman S will destroy a 911 around a track;
virtually ever auto-journalist has said basically the same.
gx
November 25, 2008I honestly think it looks horrible, and I like the X6.
But the worst part is that it is so predictable, a pastiche of a 911 hunchback with a GT face.
In contrast, isn’t the Estoque the most beautiful 4 door, ever?
gx
November 25, 2008I honestly think it looks horrible, and I like the X6.
But the worst part is that it is so predictable, a pastiche of a 911 hunchback with a GT face.
In contrast, isn’t the Estoque the most beautiful 4 door, ever?
BornToSlide
November 25, 2008i think the front is quite nice although still not sure about the back…
definitely agree with the ferrari 452 comment
BornToSlide
November 25, 2008i think the front is quite nice although still not sure about the back…
definitely agree with the ferrari 452 comment
bad_roo
November 26, 2008Ian Kuah shoots for Porsche?
bad_roo
November 26, 2008Ian Kuah shoots for Porsche?
chris harris
November 26, 2008easy roo!!
chris harris
November 26, 2008easy roo!!
bad_roo
November 26, 2008Only kidding.
I wonder who decided that Doom Blue was the best colour in which to showcase their latest creation?
bad_roo
November 26, 2008Only kidding.
I wonder who decided that Doom Blue was the best colour in which to showcase their latest creation?
Mark Williams
November 26, 2008Not all that keen on it but I’ve seen worse and I certainly don’t think it’s “bloody horrible”. It isn’t ugly of course – just a little dull and lifeless. The rear looks plain boring – something of the Chrysler design studio maybe mixed with a little Vauxhall… Is inoffensive but will probably appeal to the current Porsche customer that thinks he/she needs one. The Aston Rapide shares the same philosophy – it’s Aston, but distilled a little.
I don’t mind Porsche building cars like this. Why shouldn’t they? If people had never tried anything new, we’d still be buying supercars which were staunchly front-engined and we’d never have had the Espace, or the GTI, or the Seven etc etc etc. I’ve mellowed towards the X6 for the same reason, although that particular pill is harder to swallow.
So don’t chastise Porsche for building something different.
Mark Williams
November 26, 2008Not all that keen on it but I’ve seen worse and I certainly don’t think it’s “bloody horrible”. It isn’t ugly of course – just a little dull and lifeless. The rear looks plain boring – something of the Chrysler design studio maybe mixed with a little Vauxhall… Is inoffensive but will probably appeal to the current Porsche customer that thinks he/she needs one. The Aston Rapide shares the same philosophy – it’s Aston, but distilled a little.
I don’t mind Porsche building cars like this. Why shouldn’t they? If people had never tried anything new, we’d still be buying supercars which were staunchly front-engined and we’d never have had the Espace, or the GTI, or the Seven etc etc etc. I’ve mellowed towards the X6 for the same reason, although that particular pill is harder to swallow.
So don’t chastise Porsche for building something different.
Kermit79
November 27, 2008Just seen some more shots of the car in profile, and I take back my earlier comments….this is uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugly. I think the fact that I could still see after first viewing it, caused me to assume that it was infinitely better looking than hideous. Which prompted me to say it wasn’t bad looking, this thing has obviously had a profound effect on my senses…not in a good way.
On a side note, this looks to have a forward facing camera, or radar device in the front valance…Crash avoidance/radar breaking, or camera for parking on the school run?
Kermit79
November 27, 2008Just seen some more shots of the car in profile, and I take back my earlier comments….this is uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugly. I think the fact that I could still see after first viewing it, caused me to assume that it was infinitely better looking than hideous. Which prompted me to say it wasn’t bad looking, this thing has obviously had a profound effect on my senses…not in a good way.
On a side note, this looks to have a forward facing camera, or radar device in the front valance…Crash avoidance/radar breaking, or camera for parking on the school run?
Mark Williams
November 27, 2008I’m always aware of how different a car can look in the metal too, compared to the knee-jerk reaction one gets from seeing something in photos. Reserve final judgments until you’ve seen it up close.
Mark Williams
November 27, 2008I’m always aware of how different a car can look in the metal too, compared to the knee-jerk reaction one gets from seeing something in photos. Reserve final judgments until you’ve seen it up close.
Brian
November 28, 2008Doesn’t it look like a 4-door Scirroco?
Brian
November 28, 2008Doesn’t it look like a 4-door Scirroco?
Mark McTavish
December 2, 2008It looks every bit as bad as I expected to be honest! It’s not offensively ugly…but it doesn’t look ‘right.’
How can so many other car companies successfully transpose their design language onto a wide variety of models, yet Porsche seem incapable of this?
BMW for example…E92 M3, M5, X5, Z4…all share the same design language and all are very good looking cars (at least in my opinion).
Porsche on the other hand…Cayenne…Cayman…Panamera…all look wrong. I think only the Boxster and 911 look great (the Carrera GT was very nice as well)
It just seems Porsche are trying too hard to push too much of the 911′s styling onto the other models. It’s a shame as they’ve had some quite diverse styling trends in the past.
Then Lamborghini appear with their 4 seater and it looks absolutely fantastic!
Mark McTavish
December 2, 2008It looks every bit as bad as I expected to be honest! It’s not offensively ugly…but it doesn’t look ‘right.’
How can so many other car companies successfully transpose their design language onto a wide variety of models, yet Porsche seem incapable of this?
BMW for example…E92 M3, M5, X5, Z4…all share the same design language and all are very good looking cars (at least in my opinion).
Porsche on the other hand…Cayenne…Cayman…Panamera…all look wrong. I think only the Boxster and 911 look great (the Carrera GT was very nice as well)
It just seems Porsche are trying too hard to push too much of the 911′s styling onto the other models. It’s a shame as they’ve had some quite diverse styling trends in the past.
Then Lamborghini appear with their 4 seater and it looks absolutely fantastic!
Sykes
December 7, 2008I really don’t care how good this thing is, it’s wrong. It’s about as tasteful as the vulgar Cayenne. If you want a four door in this class, get a Maserati.
Sykes
December 7, 2008I really don’t care how good this thing is, it’s wrong. It’s about as tasteful as the vulgar Cayenne. If you want a four door in this class, get a Maserati.