AUTO SHANGHAI: Porsche Uses Most Important Auto Show On Earth To Launch New Panamera-Will It Sell?

AUTO SHANGHAI: Porsche Uses Most Important Auto Show On Earth To Launch New Panamera-Will It Sell?
Yes, you read the headline right.

For those of you who thought there wasn't enough bad news about Detroit, here is another helping.

The Detroit Auto Show is no longer the MOST important auto show.

Auto Shanghai is the new king.

2009 Auto Shanghai Photo Gallery



And it's the new king for one reason.

THIS is where the money is and where the most growth is occurring.

So Porsche used the 94th floor of the Shanghai financial center to introduce the new Panamera, on the eve of 2009 Auto Shanghai.

So what's my first reaction to the car in person?

It looks much better than in photos.

MUCH better.

And MUCH larger with strong presence.

In my interpretation, a modern day, fresher, more useful, Porsche 928.

Although I wasn't in lust for it when I saw the first images and thought the name Panamera sounded like a new Pizza at Pizza Hut, I like it for it's uniqueness in the marketplace and it's brutal, don't mess with me look.

And if you look at trends in the marketplace it would seem ugly is the new pretty.

Not saying the car is ugly, just that cars that are over styled and too pretty are losing their cachet, in favor of vehicles that shout their uniqueness.

A perfect example of what I'm talking about is the Nisan GT-R.

Not as pretty as a Ferrari (NOT EVEN CLOSE!) but it's ugliness and not like every other sportscar has worked in its favor.

And now that I've been up close and personal, I can confidently say I think it will find an audience for the estimated 20k units they hope to sell per year, during it's lifecycle.

So the Panamera is not for everyone but that doesn't matter.

What does matter is that it's right for those 20k or so buyers looking for something different and unique.

Tell us your thoughts now that we have some great in person shots of the car (I think the best ones so far but I'm prejudice).

Is it ALL that and will it sell well?

It's after midnight here in Shanghai, so I'm hitting the sack to getting up bright and early, to bring you the first pics from the show floor.

Keep checking back often.





























2009 Auto Shanghai Photo Gallery

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LuxuryFanLuxuryFan - 4/19/2009 6:36:48 PM
+5 Boost
The ES is hardly a sport sedan. Now, if you referenced the IS, then I might award you a modicum of credibility.


Agent63Agent63 - 4/20/2009 1:41:07 AM
+5 Boost
CLS and ES mentioned in the same sentence? come on. the ES is just a rebadged and redesigned Toyota Camry, we all know that. The Camry in Asia is more luxurious looking than the Lexus ES so what does that show?

The CLS, Panamera and the Rapide are in a class of its own.


david959david959 - 4/20/2009 12:50:50 PM
+1 Boost
Lexus sucks.


SixxFiveSixxFive - 4/19/2009 1:42:00 PM
+4 Boost
I had mixed feeling when I first saw the official pics from Porsche. Having seen more and more pictures of the car - I really like it. Porsche performance as a sedan for four people and what I think is a unique look that sets it apart from the "me too" crowd. Good job Porsche!


t_bonet_bone - 4/19/2009 3:27:16 PM
+5 Boost
Actually the back seats are roomy--TOO ROOMY--which spoils the lines of the car by not allowing the designers to drop the roofline sooner toward the back.

The rumor is that 6'4" (!) Porsche chairman Wendelin Weideking DEMANDED that he be able to sit in the back with room to spare.


Larryb2Larryb2 - 4/19/2009 2:37:37 PM
+1 Boost
I LOVE Porsche's in general BUT a 4 door? OMG, give me a break. This is a terrible decision on their part. Please give me a real 911 with no one in the backseat. If I wanted rear seat passengers, I would buy a Cayenne and take the kids to soccer practice.


ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 4/19/2009 8:43:48 PM
+2 Boost
204E60:

If porsche has the money and capital to continuously increase their stakes in VW, I'm sure they were never worried about another company "gobbling" them up...



DiamondJimDiamondJim - 4/19/2009 2:42:18 PM
+2 Boost
drive it 001! and give us the suspension conclusion! i want to know how it rides! better than the new SL? which beats the 6series suspension in your view...


mini22mini22 - 4/19/2009 3:03:41 PM
+3 Boost
The car is supposidly got the driving dynamics of a 911 with the luxury and ride of an S class Mercedes. It is a unique car and if it is marketed correctly it will sell very well.


henbmwhenbmw - 4/19/2009 4:32:20 PM
-2 Boost
So when are we gonna hear about a car that looks WORSE in person?


Agent001Agent001 - 4/19/2009 6:46:10 PM
+4 Boost
We did.

The Acura ZDX.

001


THESCOOTERTHESCOOTER - 4/19/2009 5:59:06 PM
+3 Boost
I am not for the styling personally as I think it is simply something that looks cobbled together from a lot of ubiquitous elements from other vehicles. I am a Porsche guy and generally think they can do no wrong, but this vehicle is simply not very attractive. I do think the interior is a good step for Porsche relative to the current Cayenne. Sure this vehicle will sell well against the Quattroporte, S63, S8, etc. but it is not for me.

PS - Whoever compared this to an ES, come on...you could buy 3 ES vehicles at this price -- not even in the same ballpark.


Agent001Agent001 - 4/19/2009 6:47:32 PM
+2 Boost
You have to understand, David969 is from a 'Different Ballpark' as well ;)

001


t_sotellot_sotello - 4/19/2009 7:15:35 PM
+3 Boost
whats with mission control around the shifter and center console in the rear???


jjl12jjl12 - 4/19/2009 8:54:24 PM
+3 Boost
well i'll be damned...i think i like it. Looks much better in person than in the marketing photos. i think this is growing on me, and i can actually fit my kids in the back without feeling guilty...


answeranswer - 4/19/2009 11:28:58 PM
+5 Boost
In the right color combination this thing works well.

Plus, it's more of a true "Porsche" than the Cayenne in my eyes.


Agent001Agent001 - 4/19/2009 11:48:45 PM
+3 Boost
And with the right wheels...

001


TECHGEEKTECHGEEK - 4/20/2009 1:01:55 AM
+2 Boost
China is overtaking US in everything - I feel this just like US overtook the previous superpower UK at the end of WW-II but I guess everyone has their time !
Prolly India after China ??? Or hold on, just EU instead of China or India as the next superpower o.0


BondMI6BondMI6 - 4/20/2009 2:09:19 AM
+2 Boost
With the right wheels.........hmmmmm......... I remember seeing a RUF Panamera article a few days back that answers that question. Simply HOT...


BozzorTheGreatBozzorTheGreat - 4/20/2009 5:03:41 AM
+2 Boost
20,000 per annum is a very conservative number for Porsche. Even in the downturn, there would be more than enough wealth in the US, EU, China, SE Asia, Russia, Japan and the M.E. to shift this number. And whilst the styling may not be to everyone's taste, behind the wheel it may be a different story: journalists who have been on rides (drives should be happening next month) have just been blown away by the ride, the noise suppression, the acceleration and the grip, with handling (always hard to judge unless you are behind the wheel) also seeming to be otherworldly.

Porsche may well have made the world's best 4 door sedan, and done so to such a degree that it may take years for anyone else to approach, let alone match.


Ricks2DogsRicks2Dogs - 4/20/2009 12:26:24 PM
+1 Boost
Excuse me...back to planet Earth please...what will this Porsche sticker for??...It'll never sell big time, anywhere...never.




I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 4/20/2009 12:37:30 PM
0 Boost
Are you really that stupid ?

Do you know how many Billionaires there are on this planet ?

Do you know how many Millionaires exist on this Planet ?

There are enough rich people in China and Russia alone to buy up all the Planned Panamera's for the next 3 years, not to mention USA, UK, Europe, Middle East.


My_Ultimate_Driving_MachineMy_Ultimate_Driving_Machine - 4/20/2009 12:59:39 PM
+2 Boost
The Panamera is going to be a superpower 1995e34 - Handling will be second to nill for a 4-door and it has already been returning Mid 3 second times to sixty and around 200mph top speed -> GTR,ZR1 hold on Lambo-Ferrari 2 Door sports car territory...With each person having their own door for convenience and a boot for your shit !


JUGNUJUGNU - 4/20/2009 1:54:32 PM
+1 Boost
I think many would agree the overall appearence/profile of panamera is not pretty but Porsche could have worked better on details, but they failed there too IMO. The night view infra red camera placing in the front bumper looks ugly, the rear number plate section and badges are bland looking too. So far seeing all pictures press and real i would only give 4 on 10 rating looks wise. When will see it in person maybe it would improve. Interior is nice though.

JUGNU


Ricks2DogsRicks2Dogs - 4/20/2009 1:59:54 PM
+1 Boost
It will sell like the 928 did...a great car, but a low volumne car.

Of course if moorons like you, proud of their speeding tickets, could afford a Porsche, then you'd be 1st in line for one.


WhelanWhelan - 4/20/2009 2:06:18 PM
+2 Boost
I'd rather have the Jaguar XF Supercharged as a 4 door notchback.

Another flop for Porsche and they know it.


WhelanWhelan - 4/20/2009 2:07:28 PM
-1 Boost
Oh and the fact that the writer compared it to a 928 spells doom as well. 928's are kinda laughed at by most Porsche owners.


supermotosupermoto - 4/20/2009 3:08:57 PM
+1 Boost
928 was a great GT car though....and I think better looking.

Even the latest Cayenne I think looks better than this. And I am a lifelong Porsche fan. Change the back end of the Panamera and it will look fantastic.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 4/20/2009 4:57:42 PM
+1 Boost
Whoa!!


theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 4/20/2009 5:23:34 PM
+1 Boost
928 comparsion is spot on. Not because of style but execution, a critical sucess, technological masterpiece, and an huge sales failure.

Its a 150K hatchback.
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