Almost Sensible: Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Wagon is Coming to America

If someone woke up today from 20-year coma, the two consumer trends they would have the most difficulty coming to terms with are just how skinny jeans have become and the fact that more than half the cars Porsche sells are SUVs. So, for those of us not emerging from two decades of slumber, the notion that the German automaker might someday produce a station wagon wasn’t entirely without plausibility.

Porsche showcased the Panamera Sport Turismo wagon concept at the Paris auto show in 2012, hinting that it might someday have a place in its lineup, but it wasn’t until last year that we heard anything further. Now its here and everyone is clamoring over how unexpected this is. If anything is unexpected, it’s that Porsche didn’t come out with a gorgeous five-door sooner. I’m willing to bet that this will be a you-got-your-peanut-butter-on-my-chocolate sort of situation — taking into account that some people aren’t all that fond of peanut butter.

Since it is a still a Panamera, its looks will remain polarizing for some while the new wagon aspect will either solve or exacerbate that problem. It all depends on your preference, though I’m sold on the appearance— it will be the styling that sells the car, as it doesn’t offer gobs of added practicality. While it does seat five, the Sport Turismo only yields an extra 1.8 cubic feet of potential cargo space from a standard Panamera. Still, that car was already more livable than a lot of the competition and there really isn’t much to compare the Turismo to the U.S. market. The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon is forthcoming but will only come in one crazy flavor, leaving you with the E400.

With the exception of its hindquarters, Porsche’s wagon shares the vast majority of its parts with the rest of the Panamera family. It’s wheelbase is identical to the fastback and it is neither taller nor longer. Engine options for North America include the 330 horsepower 3.0-liter turbo V6 and 550 hp 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8 (apologies to the 10 Porsche diesel fans living in the United States). The E-Hybrid powerplant should also be available. All-wheel drive will be standard on the wagon.

The only other thing that sets the Sport Turismo apart is its distinctive roof spoiler. Depending on the vehicle’s speed and drive mode, it will trim itself to minimize drag or raise to add downforce. It also has a third setting designed specifically to minimize wind noise when the panoramic sunroof is open.

Porsche’s Panamera Sport Turismo will be showcased at the Geneva Motor Show next week and goes on sale in the fall. The entry-level 4 Sport Turismo starts at $97,250, rising to $155,050 for the V8 Turbo model. As for the other trims slotted in-between — expect to tack on an extra $8,000 from an equivalent Panamera sedan.

[Images: Porsche]