pnoble:
Misha011,
It is all about personally liking or disliking, although I think great design is generally broadly recognized.
I don't think we would be having this debate over a 911, a 430 or any Aston Martin.
No doubt the Panamera looks better at some angles and in some colors than others and as Chris Bangle himself pointed out, some cars just don't photograph well - his observation for his own car designs - but to my personal eye, the Panamera does not look very integrated. It looks to me like they stretched a 911 but ran out of ideas for the middle.
Hopefully it will look better in actuality. I can't wait to see it up close. I missed my chance in Geneva.
Paul
--
997 C4S FL
It's all a matter of taste and preconception.IMO nothing in design is generally loved or even generally recognised.
For example fans of a given brand brand very often love all the cars from their favourite brand. I know friends who are BMW fans who admire the 6 series whereas to me it is an unacceptable design.Same with many recent Mercedes. On the opposite, there are "haters" who cannot say anything positive about a design from the brand they hate (too many Porsche haters BTW).
Personally, I cannot stand the Ferrari mid-engined cars after the 355 whereas to most enthusiasts they appear as works of art. But I love the 599 and I also find the 612 attractive.
The Astons I find boring and lacking dynamism and talking about stretched sports cars, people who knock the Panamera as a stretched 911, still admire the Rapide which to my eyes is the epitome of an elongated two door car.
Why people say that any Ferrari or Aston or even fussy Lamborghinis are beautiful? Because they are rare sights and a very expensive cars and people feel that they have to admire them. It's like when you see a film star and even if you feel she is awful you cannot say it very openly, in case your taste is questioned and you are laughed at by the majority. Similarly, if an artist has a "name" his works are admired no matter how attractive they are.
--
It's not where you're going, it's how you get there that counts
can´t say too much...sorry..... About the heads of design from other companies I just have to tell you that there is a lot of envy.... Bangle opened ways in car design that before him many where afraid to even consider... 
