We always knew Porsche would make a Lidl version of the Panamera, and now we have the numbers: two cylinders down, 104bhp less, 72lb.ft weaker, 30kg lighter and £12,000 cheaper.
That's quite a saving if you can live with the numeric inferiority. It'll be slower too, of course, but Porsche isn't saying by how much yet. On the upside, it's much more economical, offering 30.4mpg combined and 218g/km - and you can do even better than that if you specify low-rolling resistance 19-inch 'all-year' tyres - 5g/km better, in fact.
The V6 is available in two- and four-wheel drive forms (those figures earlier were for the rear-wheel drive version) and will start at £61,461 when it goes on sale in June. The four-wheel drive Panamera 4 is £66,929, though it gets a dual-clutch PDK auto as standard.
Like the V8 cars, steel springs with fixed rate dampers are standard, but variable damping and adaptive air suspension are options. Standard kit for the V6 includes bi-xenon lights, heated front seats, touch screen satnav and cruise control.
The new V6 Panameras will make their world debut at the Beijing Motor Show in April.
Mark Nichol - 16 Feb 2010