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  $3 million covers the cost of air-freighting two cars, visits to dealerships and to chauffeur some Make A Wish Foundation children. Photo Gallery

It is costing something like $3 million for Porsche Cars Australia to introduce the Panamera down under.

That's the estimated pricetag for a 33-day, 17,000-kilometre lap of the continent that also includes a strike down to Alice Springs. It includes air-freighting two cars for the run, as well as the dealer visits along the way and the excellent chance to chauffeur some Make A Wish Foundation children in their dream machines.

"These are probably the two most expensive Panameras in the world," jokes Porsche's spokesman, Paul Ellis. He is out to prove that a Panamera designed in Germany works in Australia.

Apart from the cars, the only back-up is a Cayenne diesel with Porsche's best technician and some spare tyres. There are extra windscreens in some cities, but that's about it. Oh, apart from a map to find pumps with high-octane unleaded.