Panamera Going Topless

[daro911]

Preview: Porsche Panamera Cabrio
Posted Fri May 29 2009 12:23 PM by Jeremy Weber

The Panamera Cabrio will feature only two doors and a conventional soft-top roof

Carmakers love to build as many models as possible from a single platform as this helps them spread initial investment costs, as well as risk, that can often run up into the billions of dollars. This is especially true for smaller carmakers with limited budgets and low production volumes. Case in point is Porsche, which has just developed a brand new platform for its 2010 Panamera sedan.

According to Porsche's R&D chief, Wolfgang Dürheimer, the Panamera platform has great development potential and already in the works is a new Cabrio variant. Dürheimer first revealed the information during an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, where he also mentioned that because of its size the Panamera Cabrio will only feature two doors in order to maximize rigidity. Furthermore, Dürheimer confirmed that it will feature a conventional soft-top roof as this is the only option Porsche wants for all of its convertible models. Our preview rendering includes these details and marries them with the current Panamera's styling to show what the final result may look like.

The Porsche exec wasn't willing to reveal details about a successor to the 928 but previous reports suggest that such a car is in the works. The new car would likely be called the GT Coupe but unlike the Panamera it would be an all-out performance model rather than a comfortable tourer.

Both the new Cabrio and GT Coupe are expected to feature 2+2 seating plus most of the engine options from the Panamera sedan, which means a range of V8 powertrains as well as a new V6 unit. The upcoming hybrid version, however, will likely be limited to the four-door.

Porsche hasn't officially confirmed either the Cabrio or the GT Coupe but the latest comments from Dürheimer suggest the cars are already in development, which means they should be on sale by next year as 2011 models.

 

[dann944]

now that is a car to aspire to.

 

[nickf]

better looking than the fixed head
IMHO

 

[l2015]

Agree, stunning looking car looks better than the hardtop

 

[Alex Postan]

All it needs now is an aircooled engine.

 

[daro911]

PORSCHE PANAMERA CONVERTIBLE COMING?
Unconfirmed reports say rag-top four-seater is on the way

The usually reputable automotive industry rag Automotive News reports from Germany that a convertible version of the
Porsche Panamera is on the way.


Will Porsche 'tear the roof off the sucker'? While AM admits the story has yet to be confirmed officially by Porsche, it quotes 'company insiders' who say the Panamera Cabrio will be a two-door, while retaining its full four-seat cabin packaging.
The switch to two doors in open-top form will be made to increase rigidity, as well as to help mitigate the weight increase of the folding convertible roof. The car will sell in Europe for an €11,000 premium - which translates to around £10k.

Although Porsche remains tight-lipped about the report, Porsche executives have been quoted in general terms over plans to extend the Panamera line-up.

""We have a broad range of 14 derivatives of the 911 that are very successful," development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer has said. "So it stands to reason we should diversify the lineup for the Panamera as well."


Cab reportedly has two doors but four seats Previously, those sorts of comments have been taken to imply Porsche is working on a new front-engined Coupe as a spiritual successor to the 928 - but the prospect of a Cabrio is an interesting new addition to the welter of speculation that surrounds the Panamera.
According to the story, Volkswagen supervisory board members have also confirmed VW's takeover of the Porsche brand throws up new opportunities for the Panamera - supporting speculation that a Bentley or Audi version could be on the way.

 

[jdpef356]

ORIGINAL: l

Agree, stunning looking car looks better than the hardtop

But I wonder what it will look like with the soft top up![:-]

 

[circleace]

That first picture looks stunning!!

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: jdpef356

But I wonder what it will look like with the soft top up![:-]

A 911 or a Boxster of course [] Otherwise the design team would have had to do some brand new work for a change! []


As super sedans go, the 2010 Porsche Panamera is about as good as you can get, though the styling is certainly controversial. Perhaps controversial is too kind a word, but there's a new version--or two--of the car in the works that could yet prove the platform has legs. Our preview renderings show that the styling might even benefit from leaving the sedan form factor behind.

Officials haven't yet confirmed either the Cabrio or GT Coupe, but it's a logical extension of Porsche's design logic. With 14 different variants of the Porsche 911 available, it makes sense that the company would want to diversify the Panamera as well, and we've been speculating on the idea since May. Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer has told several outlets the same thing, clearly implying more kinds of Panamera are on their way.

The first two major variants to come are likely to be the Cabrio and the GT Coupe. Both will feature just two doors, in the case of the Cabrio, to help maintain rigidity, while in the case of the GT Coupe, to deliver a sleeker body profile. Both will retain rear seats, however, and the GT Coupe will likely retain at least a semblance of the Sedan's "humpback" rear roofline. The Cabrio is expected to use a folding soft top rather than the retractable hard top that has come into vogue of late.

Officials haven't yet confirmed either the Cabrio or GT Coupe, but it's a logical extension of Porsche's design logic.

A hybrid version of the Panamera is already on the way as well, though that powertrain is expected to be limited to the four-door Sedan. V-6 engines will also be coming to the Panamera lineup, and like the Sedan, the GT Coupe and Cabrio are expected to share in the bounty, potentially opening up the range to lower-cost, entry-level variants, including a spritual successor to the excellent but oft-maligned by purists 928 in the form of the GT Coupe.

A diesel engine is also in the works for the Panamera, mimicking the diesel Cayenne, while a possible Targa top model could add a fourth variant to the Panamera's body type range. The Targa model is thought to be a three-panel removable roof built on the the four-door body.

 

[daro911]

Convertible version of the Porsche Panamera coming up?

Posted by Harvinder

According to recent reports, German-based Porsche is working on the convertible version of the Panamera 4-door sports sedan. The drop-top Panamera will most probably lose its rear doors, to help increase chassis rigidity, since there would not be a roof.

Porsche's development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer revealed, "We have a broad range of 14 derivatives of the 911 that are very successful. So it stands to reason we should diversify the lineup for the Panamera as well." If Porsche gives it a green light, expect to add 11,000 Euros on top of the conventional version's purchase price.

 

[997GT3_KO]

If the pic of the topless Panamera can be believed, then its a stunning looking car... what does it look like with the roof in place..?

 

[carreraboy]

Coupe next?

 

[Tony M]

That ticks all of the boxes for me and the wife would appreciate some extra space.

 

[carreraboy]

Seriously works as a convertible ..... new coupe new 928 also?

 

[Tony M]

I have been looking at the Spy shots again and it does look rather like a poor man's Carrera only it will be RHD.[]

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Tony M

I have been looking at the Spy shots again and it does look rather like a poor man's Carrera only it will be RHD.[]

Latest News



Porsche Panamera convertible revealed
Thursday, March 11, 2010




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Porsche is still planning to build a four-door convertible version of the Panamera, a series of patent applications obtained by Autocar has revealed.

Recent comments from Porsche insiders indicated the car had been cancelled, but renewals and fresh patent applications in the United States indicate otherwise.

The new car has a practical four-door body that, without a traditional B-pillar, has required substantial stiffening to the Panamera's floorpan and bulkheads to ensure sufficient structural rigidity and integrity.

See the Panamera convertible gallery
Bringing a four-door convertible to showrooms is a bold move that carries far higher development costs than a two-door open-top car. But with car makers seeking to establish unique selling points for all their models, it's one that could provide Porsche with a valuable advantage.

Retaining a four-door layout allows the convertible to offer the same interior space as the saloon, although the boot is likely to be compromised by the need to accommodate the roof. The design of car's rear end suggests the roof will be a fabric hood.

The Panamera's windscreen has been altered with greater rake and, as seen on one of the patent drawings from Porsche in-house designer, Grant Larson, it also gains additional supports within the small quarter windows low down on the A-pillar.

While other car makers have considered four-door convertibles, the required stiffening and added weight have often proven stumbling blocks.

But advances in high-strength steel and tailored blanks (sections of steel in varying thicknesses) have reduced costs to a point where they are now being considered as part of new-model plans by many car makers.