PICS: CAUGHT 4-door Porsche Panamera testing in USA

The Panamera is a standalone Zuffenhausen project, codenamed G1 Porsche spoke to VW and Bentley about doing a joint development - la Cayenne - but neither company took the bait

As you can see, the Panamera is just under five metres in length an

is pretty tall for a Porsche. This is good because rear sea passengers won't knock their heads when entering or exiting th vehicle

This prototype is still disguised with tape all over, fake bumpers an

a fixed rear wing big enough to say RICE. But the body structure, th chassis and the drivetrain are already close to production, so yo can begin to see the shape of the lights now that the disguise i slowly peeling off these prototypes

The size of the cargo deck is in keeping with the GT character of th

car. Accessible via a wide and deep tailgate, the boot holds cavernous 475 litres. Sart folding the split backrests which form large carpeted luggage area to provide even more space

The Panamera is closely related to the Cayenne SUV including the th

suspension and brakes, and some of the body structure too. Engineer are looking to add the 911 Turbo's all-wheel drive system.

According to chairman Wendelin Wiedeking, the annual sales target fo

the Panamera is in excess of 20,000 units. According to an interna document, the goal for the first full year of production is in exces of 27,000 cars, and one year later the demand is expected to peak a more than 30,000 vehicles. As a result, Porsche will soon be buildin well over 100,000 units per year

Starting in mid-2009, the Panamera's body in white will be assemble

and painted at the VW truck plant in Hanover, Germany. The bod structure is made of high-strength steel, clad with aluminium door and lids as well as with plastic bumpers, aprons and spoilers. Thank to the VW connection, Porsche does not have to invest in its ow stamping facility and paint shop. The total expenditure for projec G1 will exceed one billion Euros

The Panamera will be launched as a rear-drive model with two V

engines; both direct-injection versions of Porsche's 4.8, they wil come in naturally aspirated 400bhp and turbocharged 500bhp forms. A around 1800kg, this is no lightweight but it's only 200kg heavie than a 911 Turbo, and great engines will ensure expected performance The Supercharged Panamera is claimed to be capable of 190mph an

0-62mph in 4.2sec

Cheaper versions in late 2010 will stretch Panamera prices down t

around £50,000, with a 300bhp 3.6-litre V6 sourced from VW, while th range-topping hybrid version comes in 2011. It'll blast to 175mph an be as quick as a 911 Carrera with the fuel economy of the cheapes Boxster. Other technical highlights include four-wheel drive version (coming in 2010), seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions supplied b ZF, composite brakes (PCCB) and active dampers (PASM)

No V10 though, due to it being too expensive, and too precious to b

wasted on a high-volume Porsche. No diesel either. It just doesn' say Porsche and there is a hybrid in the works

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