“Blasphemy,” Again?

[December 3, 2008] Many an enthusiast dreams of owning a Porsche.  Porsche loyalists expect Porsches to be rear-engine, rear-drive two-seat coupes.  That is, after all, the way it's almost always been, and what (at least traditionally) makes a Porsche a Porsche.

Many a Porsche loyalist considered ~ and probably still consider ~ the Cayenne SUV to be an abomination.  But Porsche survived the "upheaval," and the Cayenne has been successful enough to remain in production, even into a second-generation model.  Who knows how those loyalists are going to react to something equally "sinister" ~ a front-engine, four-door Porsche?  On the surface, it may seem like insanity ~ even sacrilege ~ on Porsche's part, but it really does make sense.

For starters, the earth didn't spin of its axis with the introduction of the Cayenne SUV.  Secondly, four-door "sports coupes" are growing in number, and rapidly so.  Mercedes may have started the segment with its coupe-like CLS four-door (which has just been "cloned" in the form of VW's Passat CC).  Many other sport sedans have taken on a coupe-like profile, the Lexus GS serving as one excellent example.  Even the next Buick LaCrosse four-door sedan is taking on a coupe-like stance.  But, more significantly, serious sports car makers are jumping on the four-door sports coupe bandwagon.  Aston Martin seems serious about producing its Rapide four-door, and Lamborghini is currently showing off a seemingly production-ready Estoque four-door.  Why would ~ how could ~ Porsche, one of the most revered sports car manufacturers on earth, sit on the bench, watching everyone else play the game?

Go to the Porsche Panamera site for more information, or see online media coverage:  [AutoBlog] [Automobile] [AutoWeek] [Car and Driver] [Road & Track]