Porsche Panamera thread (spy pics & info).

[warot]

Originally Posted by Yannis

The new M5? The current model was only presented last year!

Well it only makes sense as how it has evolved... won't happen for many years though.

True the M6 does an awesome job against Porsche (no other German company has challenged Porsche in such a way), which to me is the king of sportscars. But when the Panamera comes, it will just be that special.

[Matt]

The picture doesnt work anymore. Image shack says its too big. Do you mind replacing it because im DYING to see it.

[Alx]

Pic dont work, and yes it looks like the Bugatti, and similar to the new 4 door continental GT.

Just me, please edit pic.... everyone is siked to see it.... here is a pic i have saved....

[Matt]

suicide doors. interesting.....
(in that picture above) it looks like its a stretch limo porsche or something..
The bonnet is way too long and there is kind of a lot of rear overhang.
First impression: no me gusta, hombre!

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by warot

Well it only makes sense as how it has evolved... won't happen for many years though.

True the M6 does an awesome job against Porsche (no other German company has challenged Porsche in such a way), which to me is the king of sportscars. But when the Panamera comes, it will just be that special.

BMW made awsome job against Porsche? Sure the car handles well and is very fast but it handles no way as good as the 911.

Back to topic. So far I have seen some great chops but I'll hold my opinion until I have seen the final car. It's not impossible that Porsche will hit us a concept car in the next 12 months.

[Imhotep Evil]

Well, it depends, on what sort of handling are you talking about.
The Porsche + M3 CLS/M3 GTR is a racing handling, not the most user friendly type of handling, wich means the vast majority of people will handle better the likes of BMWs + MB CLS, witch are more user friendly and forgiving.
That is perhaps the big diference between Porsche and BMW. One has unforgiving/less forgiving handling, while the other has user frienly/more foregiving/makes you belive you are better than in real life type of handling.
And I do agree that BMW are trully THE ONE challenging the Porsche myth.

[martinbo]

Originally Posted by Luwalira

BMW made awsome job against Porsche? Sure the car handles well and is very fast but it handles no way as good as the 911.

Ahem, whilst I share your sentiments from an emotional standpoint Luwalira I must say that BMW have proven the biggest threat to Porsche in recent years.

Yes, whilst the M6 may lack the detailed interactiveness of a 911 or the scalpel-sharp handling characteristics, what the M6 lacks in finesse it makes up for in sheer brutal ability. The M6 is a sportscar come grand tourer of monumental capability given its rather portly kerb mass of around 1800 kg - 250 kg more than a Carrera 4S. I reckon it's a very real threat to the top end of the 911 range - turbo included!

That notwithstanding, there is one BMW that did even more damage to the 911's competitiveness and consumer appeal: the mighty BMW M3. As sports coupés go, the M3 must be seen as the 911's greatest ever rival in my opinion.

So, as Porsche lovers we must be mindful of the very real threat that BMW poses to the 911, Boxster and Cayenne.

I guess the Panamera may have just a small measure of "eye-for-an-eye" intent in its design brief: get some back at BMW...

[Centurion]

Imhotep Evil: The M3 CLS is a fantastic sport car but it is a bit unintresting since it is a track car which in this case the normal 911s aren't. Therefor it isn't fair to compare a normal car with a stripped out track car.

Martin:
The way things goes down is like this. BMW, Audi and Mb are aware of that the 911 is the king of sport cars and since they can't match it's excellent engineering they try to find other ways to beat the 911, and what do they do? They take a car with relativerly good handling and stuff an engine producing huge amounts of power. Does the power have a significance? Yes it has the M6 is extremely fast with it's 507hp V10 engine but a 911 with 507hp would rip i-Drive out of a M6. Then you might say "Well the M6 is much heavier than the 911" So? It's not Porsche's problem that BMW decide to build such a heavy car. The car is heavy because it is a GRAND Tourer and the 911 is a RAW SPORTS CAR and therefore the cars shouldn't be compared since the 911is clearly the better sport car.

On the other hand BMW is quite a threat to Porsche since they are the more or less the only one of the three giants with handling and performance philosophies in the back of their head. Still if they really want compete with Porsche BMW has to take thing to a whole another level and as Porsche is improving their cars every year I'm having a hard time seeing BMW as big threat. It's more the other way around because of the fact that Porsche is increasing the size of their line up with fantastic cars.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Luwalira

Imhotep Evil: The M3 CLS is a fantastic sport car but it is a bit unintresting since it is a track car which in this case the normal 911s aren't. Therefor it isn't fair to compare a normal car with a stripped out track car.

Well the CSL really competes with the GT3. Im pretty sure these cars are very evenly matched, both stripped out, and both race cars. The CSL is faster around nurbergring than the GT3. I think you actually posted that yourself with those times. The difference is almost negligable though. Its like 7:50 to 7:52. Also another threat coming from BMW that may clobber the new Caymen S is the up and coming M4 coupe. We will see though.

So I wouldnt just blow them off. BMW is more sports car oriented than you may think.

[Centurion]

Yeah the M3 CLS is faster around the ring than the GT3 but them again they are track cars so they aren't that interesting for me. Yeah BMW is very sports oriented but when Porsche produced an extream sports SUV they proved that they are VERY sports oriented.
Cayman? Oh boy, you shouldn't have brought up that little cocodile up. Many people don't know this cut the Cayman is more of less a minature version of the 911 and due to is small seixe and weight it is even more agile than the 911 it self. The truth is that if the Cayman S had the same amount of power as the 911 Carrera S the Cayman would be the winner. Therefore I don't even think that the Z4 coupe will stand a chance against the Porsche.