Porsche

However, recent spy shots of it in testing are showing a completely different animal. Picture if you will the latest Mercedes CLS, but without a boot, so it is more of a hatchback and with a strange looking spoiler. Yes, you get the ideal. If your not, the press release pictures for the Cayenne where shot at night. Things may change for the Porsche Panamera between now and 2009, but all signs are pointing to a four door GT hot hatch, come coupe, not a sleek, low riding 4 door Grand tourer.

Porsche Panamera 4 door

What we do know is that Porsche actually considered the rear swing back doors, like on the Mazda 6, but thankfully decided against it and are (fingers crossed) sticking with four normal opening doors. We are also hoping that the spoiler will be redesigned or only appear at speed. However that is just our opinion. Other than that, we feel that it should be more widely accepted, from a visual point of view than the SUV that is currently on sale by the German manufacturer. If Porsche really can integrate the design simplicity of the 911 into a family sized saloon, they really will be on to a winner.

Porsche Panamera GT coupe

For those of you that don't know, Porsche published their financial status for the year in November 2007, and have shown more than a healthy return. This was boosted by the thirty odd percent share they have amassed in Volkswagen, and also claim that it would have been greater had piles of cash not been spent on development for the Panamera GT coupe. Could this share in VW also point to engine design direct from the Volkswagen fold? Time will tell.

We have been lead to believe that the target of brake horse power is to give it more than the Mercedes CLS, which can be topped at around 510 bhp. If this is the case, it is not going to be slow. Porsche project a meagre twenty thousand to be produced. We think the 4x4 has had its time as the 'school run' vehicle.

Watch the Porsche Panamera video released by the manufacturer to promote the car's release.