German Car Zone

Scheduled for an official presentation at the 2009 Geneva show, here are two all-new four-door coupés testing at the challenging Nürburgring. Both, the fourth range from Porsche, known as the Panamera, and the all-new Aston Martin Rapide, are developed to be strong competitors to the Mercedes CLS, the brand-new Volkswagen Passat CC and the future Audi A7.

Though the Panamera takes over design elements from the 911 range, there will be significant differences, too: While the first has always been to keep its rear-mounted boxer engine, the newcomer will have a choice of three front-mounted motors, though set back to the centre of the car as much as possible. The entry-level unit will be Volkswagen’s 3.5-litre six-cylinder unit developing 300 bhp, while Porsche’s own drivetrain will be a direct-injection eight-cylinder petrol engine, available in naturally-aspirated guise (350 bhp) and with twin-turbo (560 bhp).

That should be enough to beat out the competition for a while: Mercedes’ CLS 63 AMG comes up with “only” 514 bhp. However, should Stuttgart make the CLS even stronger, Zuffenhausen would strike back with the Porsche GT’s 700-bhp ten-cylinder unit ...

The target for the Panamera is to be a true sportscar while at the same time it shall be a family-car for every-day use with four full seats, easy access to the rear and a luggage compartment of around 450 litres. When it hits the road in 2009, Porsche hopes to be able to sell 20 000 units annually – and to jump over the barrier of 100 000 sold cars per year.

Yet more exclusive will be the new four-door from England: Following the Rapide Concept shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit back in 2006, Aston Martin is now coming up with the real machine. Former owner Ford had put the project on hold when they decided to sell the biggest pack of shares. After selling this to the group lead by David Richards, one of the first decisions was to revive the project and start developing the production version Rapide. Together with the body, the DB9 will provide its platform and its V12-engine. The latter will be tuned to 480 bhp while it delivers 450 bhp in the DB9. The car is believed to be released in 2010.


Porsche Panamera Battles Aston Martin Rapide at the Ring


M

I would choose the Aston Martin - without thinking twice. Absolutely stunning design and great profile. Especially the back looks so much better then the one of the Porsche!

X2!

I'm really starting to dislike the Panamera, btw.

I also like the Aston Martin, looks sleeker, classier and sexier than the Porsche.
However in my opinion Aston Martin have played it a bit too much on safe with the design, it looks like a stretched out DB9. It will be a very handsome car, of that I have no doubt. I just wish that the Rapide would have been more distinguishable from the other Aston Martins.
At least start with a different pair of headlights (DB9) and rearlights (Vantage), cost cutting?

I don't really like the stretchable design thing that some car manufacturers apply throughout their productline. Same design but in different sizes like Bentley, Audi, Volvo and Seat.

The Porsche looks bolder, larger and more industrial.
On some photo's its design kind of look like a toned down Carrera GT which is a great thing, I'm hopeful. I bet it will turn out better in reallife than on photo's like most new cars nowadays for example a Ferrari F599 etc.

Aston please the Porsche looks awful next t the Rapid

Porsche without a doubt.
Ultimately, you are buying into a tradition of 50 years of engineering excellence. Porsche is designing no comprises into Panamera. Look at the way Porsche stays flat in the corner while the Aston leans a lot. Also, Aston profile may look sleeker but its sloping roofline should compromise bask-seat comfort. People who buy this cars want to admire them on the road, not as a piece of sculpture. As for the design, I think Panamera will be a lot sleeker than it looks on the photo. The surface should carry on more detail and the ack will be sleeker as well.

I'm not sure about the Rapide. Front and rear are sleek, the rear is better than the Porsche... However, the middle is way too long, and the bonnet appears too small for the length of the car. I don't think it will look that good, everytime you'llsee one you'll expect it to be a DB9/V8 and be deceived...

The Porsche on the other hand, has I think potential to look better than in these camoed pics. The side will be way sleeker with big air intakes, the front looks like a supercar. The rear is very worrying though, looks like a Mondeo...well hopefully they have something hidden to let it appear better.

So i'll wait for the uncamoed pics to decide, but the Porsche looks more original than the Aston. And there is no doubt it will be thousand times better engineeringwise...

The Astons are some of the most beautiful cars ever, however I suspect their splendid lines aren't working for a 5m+ sedan.

Panamera looks heavy - but that's just an appearence. Porsche will use some quite impressive lightweight solutions / tech ... also used in some future big Audi & VW models (not A8 ASF!).

I have been face to face with a prototype of the Panamera and where you see the initial drawings released by Porsche at the beginning of development . You can see that the finished car is not going to be as low as the sketch suggests.

I was hoping that roofline was just added padding but I am afraid it is not.
The Aston Rapide and the incoming BMW production car of the CS Concept will keep their low raked appearance intact , sadly this is not the case for the Porsche.

I have no doubt it will sell , possibly better than expected because it is the latest Porsche . But I wonder if potential Panamera buyers have been seduced more by the Rapide and CS when they saw what the Panamera will initially look like.

I wish media would not mention these cars such as Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS , they are not in the same segment.

Scott: The car doesn't look sleek because of the tinted rear window and the green house which isn't properly outlined on the mules. Not to mention the partly covered sides of the tail lights, making the car looks very heavy. Perception will be a tad sleeker and sexier once the last finishing touches have been unfolded. In the end it's going to have that phat spaceship type of look unlike the Rapide which has a teriffic profile.

These are to similar but yet very different cars

Rapide: Vanity/ image car just like the CLS. Simply for people who are willing to scarifies form for function. Sex sale and the Rapide will undoubtedly catch the interest of the Aston fans.

Panamera: High performance sedan for M5/Cayenne clientèle in the market for something special but yet usable. A car for people who own a sports car and want a sedan which is almost on the same level when it comes to performance.

In the end the Panamera is going to come on top as the car with most substance offering innovative design, practicality and top performance in one package.