Panamera WAGON hybrid

[Rick V]

MPG is fine, I realize we all need to be more "green" but you can make the MPG thing work and NOT be a station wagon.
The new breed of Porsche owner is nothing like the old ones, you know the drivers that flash other Porsches, this new crowd has a hard time driving since it is difficult to see while looking down their noses at everybody else, including those of us who actually understand what we are driving.
I like Matt am not the target audience and never will be, so I guess my opinion doesn't amount to squat, which is fine, I will just continue to drive my old 911 and my Boxster and flash at the other Porsches and be surprised if I get a flash back.
Y'all can have this new mentality, and the overly self important people who have to run out and have the new fashion statement or penial extension.
GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

[LeeH]

I like it! In my opinion, this has a much better rear end treatment than the Panamera.

[island911]

Originally Posted by mikeesik

Porsche is lost.
They should place an ad in the paper.



Funny how their own designs - must- evolve so drastically from birth in order to keep - mother Porsche- able to suckle her new young.

Porsche isn't lost. ...problem is that our nanny-state is over the top.

...as pointed out here:

Originally Posted by kaisen

I'll state it again:

Porsche, and every other manufacturer, has to make sure their entire fleet sold averages whatever standard the governments set. Fuel economy, or carbon footprint.

So each "fuel economy" model makes room for your lusting 800 hp firebreather or that profitable 500hp turbo SUV that also makes room financially for that low-volume, low-profit 800hp firebreather.

True for Porsche. True for Toyota. True for Ford.

It's no longer the good ol' days when Porsche could survive on a couple moderately priced sports cars selling low volumes.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Porsche, and every other manufacturer, has to make sure their entire fleet sold averages whatever standard the governments set. Fuel economy, or carbon footprint.

So each "fuel economy" model makes room for your lusting 800 hp firebreather or that profitable 500hp turbo SUV that also makes room financially for that low-volume, low-profit 800hp firebreather.

I don't think this argument holds up.
If this were solely about CAFE, carbon footprints, etc, then Porsche would not need to make tradeoffs of economy models for hot-rods. Porsche can achieve the CAFE mandate with lightweight sports cars alone. My SC gets over 20 MPG with no EFI or computer controls.

Originally Posted by kaisen

It's no longer the good ol' days when Porsche could survive on a couple moderately priced sports cars selling low volumes.

^^ This. ^^
Porsche is and has been moving more toward a mainstream market instead of a niche market.

The 911 got fatter and heavier so Mr. Upwardly Mobile can have his mocha grande on the way to the office, held conveniently in the flip-out cup holder. And his wife can go pick up the kids in the Cayenne while sneering at the moms who are driving ordinary SUVs.

Now that the economy has faltered, they can trade the two in for a single Porsche station wagon that suits both needs, and Mr. UM can wax nostalgic about how his father also drove a station wagon.

[VincentVega]

Interesting thread. I'd sure like to see a smaller, fuel efficient sports car produced to offset the twin turbo v8 suv. It cant be easy to market a premium small car but I have to think they could make some $$ or at least improve the fleet MPG.

[matthew-s]

Oh, I don't know. I understand what folks are saying about "roots", but I think its pretty cool.

A few thoughts:

1. It's not like they are no longer building 911's (incl. GT variants), Boxters, and Caymans, 918's etc. It is a pretty full product line.

2. There is only so much room for companies designing cars based on Colin Chapman design philosophies. We may find that there is room for less than 1 such company as time goes on?

3. At my point in life, I have 2 kids, and only time / patience / space for 1 car. The Panamera (if I could afford it) seems pretty damn cool, especially at 67(?!) mpg.

4. The S3 does look cool, as does the BMW 1 series 5 door, but neither are slated to come to the USA, so for me, they don't matter in practical terms.

[TRE Cup]

With this new design, prepare for waiting lists; it is sooooo much better looking than the first one.

[rcooled]

This isn't the first time that Porsche explored the idea of building a station wagon.

[RWebb]

Komenda wanted the (new) 911 to be a full 4 seater - this is an old old impetus, despite claims that they would never build a station wagon or sedan