2017 Porsche Panamera Shooting Brake
Fans of Porsche’s Panamera Sport Turismo
concept from the 2012 Paris Auto Show rejoice, the automaker has heeded your
calls and is putting the stunning show car into production. Our latest spy
shots show a late-stage prototype. It was testing alongside a prototype for the
regular version of the second-generation Panamera, making it easy to spot the
differences between each of the cars.
The general shape looks virtually
identical to what we saw on the Panamera Sport Turismo concept, though
camouflage gear still hides most of the final details. This particular
prototype is for the high-performance Turbo variant, as indicated by the
uprated wheels, tires and brakes plus the square-shaped, quad-exhaust tips.
Instead, expect something like Shooting
Brake or Estate or perhaps even Gran Turismo to be used in the nomenclature.
The idea of the car was born from customer feedback, as Porsche has previously
said clients are requesting more luggage space than what’s offered by the current
Panamera.
The second-generation Panamera in
general is slightly larger than the current model, too. It will be the first
car based on the Volkswagen Group’s MSB platform for large, front-engined,
rear-wheel-drive (with available all-wheel drive) cars. Most next-generation
Bentleys are expected to adopt this platform as well. Key benefits of the design
are lighter weight and compatibility with electrified powertrains.
The variety of powertrains on offer for
the current Panamera is likely to remain, albeit with some all-new engine
designs thrown in. The 2014 Panamera S already received a new twin-turbo V-6,
and for the second-generation Panamera we should see more potent variants like
the GTS and Turbo benefit from a new V-8. A plug-in hybrid model will also be
offered once again, but with improved battery technology helping to lower
weight and increase capacity. The current Panamera S E-Hybrid weighs a hefty
4,609 pounds.
The second-generation Panamera is
expected to make its debut at the 2016 Paris Auto Show in October. This wagon
variant should follow shortly after.
