I got to preview the new Panamera

[R Young]

I was invited to review the new Panamera this weekend. I had to sign a confidentiality agreement, so I can't say a lot about it. I can say this: I have read a lot of negative opinions about this yet to be released car. This is a phenomenal car. It is nice looking and the interior blew my mind; I loved it. It is an extraordinary car. I would love to have one.

[seafeye]

I was invited to review the new Panamera this weekend. I had to sign a confidentiality agreement, so I can't say a lot about it. I can say this: I have read a lot of negative opinions about this yet to be released car. This is a phenomenal car. It is nice looking and the interior blew my mind; I loved it. It is an extraordinary car. I would love to have one.

So you can't talk about it....do you have a picture?

[R Young]

I was invited to review the new Panamera this weekend. I had to sign a confidentiality agreement, so I can't say a lot about it. I can say this: I have read a lot of negative opinions about this yet to be released car. This is a phenomenal car. It is nice looking and the interior blew my mind; I loved it. It is an extraordinary car. I would love to have one.

So you can't talk about it....do you have a picture?

No, they even used a metal detector wand to make sure no one had a camera or any recording devices.

[Tool Pants]

First a truck. Now a sedan. Next it will be a tractor....

[renos]

First a truck. Now a sedan. Next it will be a tractor....

Come on free your minds!

IMO it is not what Porsche make but how good their products are.

The Cayenne is the Porsche among SUVs and the Panam. will be the Porsche among sedans.

The tractor will be the Porsche among tractors; in some places they hold tractor races so it could be the Porsche Tractor Supercup.

You must have heard that in spring 09 the new Cayenne diesel will be released so we could have an RS Spyder Diesel in time for Le Mans.

Exciting things ahead!

Edited June 19, 2008 by renos

[White987S]

About how much will they be?

[LotusDriver]

I got my first ever "spy photo" opportunity this weekend. Coming over Loveland Pass on 26 July I saw 6 camoflaged Panamera test cars. I'm guessing this doesn't really add any information that isn't already out there, but I can't help but post my very own photo. :)

The first one I saw was parked in a turn-out as I flashed by and my first thougt was to wonder if it was a new 4-door version of the Nissan 350Z. It has a bit of that same beefy, bulky (dare I say bloated?) look. I saw the second one approaching on the road, and even with the headlights all taped up, it was obviously a Porsche and I knew it was the Panamera.

A little while later I saw two more in a turn-out (driver of one was peeing) and I pulled over to get a closer look and see if they'd tell me anything. Nope...the guys would barely acknowledge my presence. I tried to strike up a conversation anyway and managed to get a few words out of one (German accent) who only said, "We can't tell you anything." :)

Things I noticed while giving the car a quick walk-around:

- The interior looked quite nice...what little I could see of it. A lot was covered up with computers and other readouts etc (I assume for testing and tweaking). The rear windows were all blacked out.

- The car is HUGE!

- The winglike thing on the back of the test cars is actually a cage covering up a deployable wing.

- They all had Georgia license plates/

- The guy I spoke to had a Keystone lanyard around his neck. I've seen other posts from last Fall reporting Panameras in the same area...maybe they use Keystone as a base.

I didn't manage to hook up with any of them on the road, so I can't comment on performance. I probably should have turned around and seen if they'd play a bit.

Anyway, I always reserve my aesthetic judgment on a car until I see it in the flesh since pictures rarely give you the right feel for a car. So, not that anyone cares, I have an opinion on this car now. It's not a good looking car. The lines just aren't right...I think it's the bloated look that doesn't work for me...especially on a Porsche. Porsche seems to have a spotty record on designing cars unless they use their tracing paper to copy the classic 911 look. Cayenne (BAD), Cayman/Boxster (good), GT (sublime), Panamera (bloated). I don't see this car as competing well against the M5 when it comes to looks (and I'm no BMW fan)...I'm guessing most people who buy it instead of the M5 will choose it because they are Porsche fans or they want to be different.

Well, that's my opinion anyway...not really worth much. I'm more about how a car performs than how it looks though. I'm sure it's a great drive for a car that size.

Edited July 28, 2008 by LotusDriver

[Moses]

I love it. I think it is fantastic.

click here for mor ehigh quality pics of Panamera