Analyze THIS: New Porsche Panamera
TTAC used to have a writer who’d critique new car designs from the aesthetic point-of-view. Unfortunately, Carl stopped working at Starbuck’s, so I couldn’t hassle him for free coffee– I mean clean copy. So when I received an email update from Classic Driver promising a design analysis of the Porsche Panamera, I was well up for a professional’s analysis of what looks, to me, like another hideous Porsche. By the sixth paragraph, I knew Chris Hrabalek was prevaricating. And then he gets nasty, pulling rank on readers.
“Although one could hardly call the styling of the new Panamera revolutionary, neither can one accuse it of having anything but pure Porsche DNA. While it’s certain that numerous sofa-referees will judge the styling as too conservative and unimaginative, it is far removed from the Aston Martin DB9 LWB (akaAston Martin Rapide). Also, while the Panamera shares common parts with its siblings, none are too obvious. Visually, it is a far more distinct model than, say, the products of the Porsche 996/Boxster era.” Where’s the beef? “It leaves us in no doubt that, were the front badge to be removed, this car would still be readily identified as a true Porsche. It’s true that, unlike the Porsche 928, it does not take a stylistic risk.”
That’s it? Sigh. OK, over to you, TTAC’s Best and Brightest. What do you make of the new Porsche Panamera?
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So, who was it that did this market study that suggested there's a big market for a 4 door, front engined Porsche? Ferrari perhaps?
What is a shame, is that the twenty year old stillborn Porsche 989 actually looks better than "The Hunchback of Zuffenhausen".