here 53 nice pics from Italian press presentation
http://www.autoblog.it/galleria/big/porsche-panamera-la-nostra-prova-su-strada-01/1
I've seen the Panamera today for the first time in the metal.
There were 3 cars , white, yachting blue and topaz brown.
Positive
Negative
I will drive a Panamera S next week, in theory (before extras) the most affordable model.
I am glad I am not in the market for a limousine, otherwise I would be very sceptical about buying the Panamera even though I am a friend of Porsche.
For me the best colour for this car I imagine is silver (which I haven't seen). Dark colours might help to disguise its sheer size but they make the rear side look even more heavy and ungainly because they also hide the rear styling details.
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It's not where you're going, it's how you get there that counts
Oct 3, 2009 8:19:30 PM
I still think this car is ugly as sin from the rear doors backward. The rear end just doesn't flow properly. I honestly don't know what the designers at Porsche were thinking. The interior of the car is gorgeous though, at least they got that right...
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2009 Porsche Turbo Cab - Cargraphic exhaust, HRE P40's charcoal
Oct 6, 2009 10:25:50 PM
Oct 7, 2009 5:30:43 AM
Oct 7, 2009 8:47:27 AM
I've seen this colour at the dealer's and it looks even worse in real life! I wonder how Porsche decided to bring it out.
Also yesterday a black Panamera was in an open air car park so I could observe it from a distance and from all angles. It had great presence (even on 19" wheels) and many people stopped to look at it because it was a unique shape and unlike anything else. For sure this car needs 20" wheels but this size may also necessitate the optional air suspension for a good ride.
IMO after seeing several cars in the last week, the Panamera is a grower. A pity that with a few tweaks here and there Porsche could have made it more attractive.
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It's not where you're going, it's how you get there that counts
Thanks Misha, as always. Many posters will undoubtedly criticize the Panamera as being the "ugliest" of these examples, and say (as I do initially) that the Rapide is the best design. But on further study, you can see the different design philosophies at work. The Aston goes for clean, aerodynamic looks, with little regard for rear seat comfort and outward view. Just compare the size of the rear door glass, for example, on both cars. Porsche sticks with the form follows function approach, Aston adopts form follows design.
Having said this, I still long a bit for more sculpturing of the Panamera's rear section. The photos are unkind to the Panamera, as they distort the rear and front sections, but still...
Rapide: Effeminated design (if you allow these sexist remarks for a car)
CLS: very successful design
S-class: like a bodybuilder with bad proportions
Maserati: looks old (especially in side view that the imposing grille cannot be seen)
BMW: generic look and anonymous; will look old in 2 years.
Panamera: The picture above is very flattering. The basic design idea is good and unique BUT the detailing at the rear 1/3 leaves a lot to be desired. A missed opportunity.
928: The discontinuation of the range is another missed opportunity for Porsche (especially as all rivals offer front engined V8,V10 or V12 coupes)
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It's not where you're going, it's how you get there that counts