Porsche Panamera first touch

Based on first impressions and the reaction at this week’s Shanghai Motor Show, the latest Porsche, like the Cayenne, is destined for success.

And who can remember when Porsche aficionados criticised the Cayenne for not being a true Porsche?

The Panamera has also coped some criticism for moving the brand away from its so-called core values but Porsche is moving with the times.

We’ll have to wait several months for the first official drive of the sleek V8 but Porsche insiders say it handles as well as a 911, yet provides a luxury car ride through its adaptive suspension.

After its official reveal, showgoers six-deep poured over the car, particularly the rear seat and luggage area and throughout the opening day Porsche executives wore smiles a mile wide as the Panamera clearly became everyone’s favourite.

In the flesh, the car is best viewed from the front three quarter, where it looks not surprisingly a lot like the 911.

Perhaps the least flattering views are in profile and from the rear, where the car’s high shoulder line and rump tend to give the big sedan a bulky feel.

But there’s no denying the roomy cabin.

As chief designer Michael Mauer says, the car was designed from the inside out.

“It needed to be roomy and I think we’ve achieved those objectives,” he says.

Porsche has taken great pains to give the car respectable rear seat leg and headroom. It has succeeded.

Slide into either of the two comfy leather rear seats and the overall impression is one of excellent quality and surprising amount of space.

The centre console reaches from the dashboard right through the centre of the car, running the full length of the cabin, which means this Porsche is not a five seater.

Nor will it ever be available with a conventional rear bench seat, according to Mauer.

“If you want a five-seater we have the Cayenne,” he says.

The centre console controls around the gearshift have a distinct look of modern mobile phone controls yet the dials are distinctly Porsche with a large rev counter directly in front of the driver.

Despite the mark down as a five seater, the two rear seat passengers are pampered with individual heating and air conditioning controls and electrically adjustable seatbacks on the Turbo.

Both rear seats flip forward to provide an almost flat load area and the luggage area is big enough and deep enough to hold four suitcases. The large rear hatch is wide and deep, which should allow easy access.

Like many upper end European wagons, the Panamera can be specified with an automatic opening and closing boot.

Most rear seat occupants up to 2m in height will find the space agreeable and even with a tall person in the driver’s seat there is still plenty of legroom.

However, the car’s high shoulder line, although providing a cocooning feel, reduces visibility and the car’s rear three quarter visibility could be a problem for parking.

As with all Porsches, the Panamera feels classy and even a cut above even the 911 and Cayenne.

It will need to be as one of the big sedan’s key rivals is the lavishly equipped Maserati Quattroporte.

Porsche expects to sell about 20,000 a year.

But if first impressions are any guide, the Panamera may well break through this barrier.

Recession or no recession, they have another winner on their hands.

We can’t wait to drive it.