After an outrageously lethargic gestation period, Porsche has officially opened the floodgates on the Panamera hatchback. Yes, it's a hatchback. Or no, it isn't; it's a 'space coupé', according to Porsche styling director Michael Mauer. Please.
Whatever it is, the inside's as certain to split opinion as the outside does, based on these official interior photos. We'll be as objective as possible so you can make your own mind up, but we will say that we're glad Porsche has resisted the urge to simply stretch out the 911's cabin like it's stretched out its exterior.
The cockpit itself is split into four distinct sections (four-zone climate control is an option), with the centre console (covered in buttons) running from front to rear, and liberal use of wood throughout to emphasise a move towards luxury.
And to that end there's a plethora of colour and trim options, including the wood you see here and carbon fibre, and each of the four seats is electrically adjustable. It's a hatch, too, so it's more flexible in terms of luggage than you'd expect, with the 445-litre boot (432 for the Turbo) opening up to 1,250-litres with the seats folded down. There are also loads of airbags and a mega Burmester stereo, as well as a surprising amount of leg and headroom in the back.
But back to the front, the Panamera should be far from a porky luxury barge, sharing more of the spirit of
Maserati's Quattroporte in terms of being a proper driver's car than being a soft-footed motorway mile muncher. Only V8 petrol engines will be available initially (though rumours of V6 diesels abound), with either rear- or four-wheel drive. The entry level S gets 400bhp, hits 62mph in 5.4 seconds and goes onto 176mph all the while burning fuel at a not-too-bad rate of 26.2mpg. Porsche's PDK twin-clutch gearbox can be specified, too - and that's to include stop-start engine technology. How very green.
The Panamera 4S gets all-wheel drive and hits 62mph 0.4 seconds quicker than the S, while the range-topping Turbo straps twin blowers to the same unit for an extra 100bhp and a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds. Fuel consumption for that one is quoted as 23.2mpg combined, and its price tag comfortably into six figures.
Mark Nichol - 13 Feb 2009
