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Limo gets lethal

The Mercury

22 August 2008

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Porsche Panamera
Taking shape: An artist's impression of the coming Porsche Panamera. Photo Gallery

There are claims Porsche's Panamera four-door saloon has exceeded explosive internal targets designed to produce the world's most lethal and comfortable limousine.

Parameters set by Porsche pitch the Panamera as the leader in performance and comfort.

Some company insiders say it will blow the competition wide open and set a new level for the luxury/limousine segment.

Final development testing suggests the Panamera has equalled or exceeded all of its mission statements.

Production is set to begin within a year and it is likely to arrive in Australia in late 2009.

Specification levels for the Panamera, which is set to be unveiled at the Paris Auto Salon in November, and engine choices have not yet been defined for Australia. The early prediction is for about 150 units to be sold here each year.

But if Porsche was serious about making a footprint on sales of rival German premium saloons it would start the range with the entry level V6. That would enable it to fight with Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW in the $180,000-plus price range.

A V8 and a twin turbo V8 are also under development along with a hybrid version.

The Panamera is principally set to target rival German long-wheel-base luxo saloons, the BMW 7-series, Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Porsche is not acknowledging, at this stage at least, Aston Martin's forthcoming Rapide four-door saloon as a rival.

Jan-Peter Hoffmeister, Porsche's transmission and drivetrain specialist, says the V10-powered BMW M5 was benchmarked for performance along with the Maserati Quattroporte while the Mercedes-Benz CLS was referenced for comfort.

“We simply want to be the best in driving dynamics and driving comfort,” he said.

No one from Porsche would commit to acknowledging that the well-received PDK double-clutch transmission has been used in development testing on the Panamera.

 

Comments on this story

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    It's about time porsche court up the the world of the four door four seat family luxury car market chrysler mercedes and jaguar have been there for years now porsche have made something realistic . Thankyou

    Big Trev of Australia Posted at 31 August 2008 1:02pm

     

    Thanks T Bennet. That’s what we love at Carsguide… a decent laugh first thing on a Monday morning. Indeed, the term `most lethal’ when literally translated, means `most capable of causing death’. And if we bothered with literal translation, we would probably query your use of the term `libelous’, since our writer’s comments were patently not legally actionable. You demanded explanation. Lethal, in this case, was clearly intended as a compliment. As would have been the use of, say, wicked, beast, aggressive, or similar terms. I’m surprised at having to give an explanation like that to somebody with your apparent vocabulary skills, or in fact having to give it to anybody over the mental age of eight. Cheers, Karla Pincott ------------------------------------------------------ "Most lethal" literally translates to "most capable of causing death" so Carsguide is now under serious obligation to defend its credibility and reputation through justifying its decision to employ such a disgracefully sensationalist description. Does Carsguide genuinely believe that the Porsche company has or did have internal targets designed to produce the world's most lethal limousine? Or believe that Porsche would aspire to this objective? Or credit this claim to be in any way a factual statement of intent by Porsche? Or does this merely amount to libelous drivel repeated by Carsguide to the detriment and harm of Porsche and its agents, and to motoring enthusiasts in general? Carsguide promptly needs to explain and justify these questions, and provide supporting documentation towards its damaging claims as being truthful or factual. There are claims that Carsguide has stooped into lowest-denominator terminology disguised as credible comment, but which reeks only of the cheapest most amateurist form of incompetent unprofessional gutter-style automotive journalism, not to mention commercial slander.

    T Bennett Posted at 30 August 2008 5:08am

     

    amazing looking car.. what i would do for an m5 though..urrrgh

    Jcotteri of is a mad dude yo. Posted at 28 August 2008 4:06pm
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