ATLANTA — Look for a price cut of more than $15,000 compared with the original 2010 Porsche Panamera S, when Porsche launches its entry-level versions of the Panamera in the U.S. in June. The 2011 Panamera and the Panamera 4, downsized with a new 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, will make their world debut in April at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show.
Porsche said the base Panamera will start at $75,375, including a $975 destination charge. The Panamera 4 will start at $79,875. In comparison, the 400-hp 2010 Porsche Panamera S starts at $90,775, including shipping, and the top-of-the-line 500-hp Panamera Turbo starts at $133,575, including shipping.
Porsche said official U.S. EPA fuel economy figures on the V6 Panamera models will be announced closer to the on-sale date. However, Porsche's home office released European fuel economy numbers on Tuesday, noting that the base Panamera will return the equivalent of about 25 miles per gallon, while the Panamera 4 will return the equivalent of 24 mpg. Porsche U.S. spokesman Gary Fong told Inside Line in a phone conversation on Tuesday morning that "We just don't know [what U.S. fuel economy numbers will be]. It just doesn't translate [interpolating the New European Driving Cycle numbers]. They test in an entirely different manner than the EPA."
The Panamera is a 2WD model, while the Panamera 4 comes standard with all-wheel drive. U.S. models have a standard seven-speed transmission.
Fong said that Porsche is shooting for a similar audience for its new entry-level Panamera models than for the uplevel models. "The demographics are still male, with age ranging from 45 to 55 and a household income of around $200,000," Fong said. "We always do a top-down strategy with our models. The new Panamera models are aimed at folks who ask, 'Do I really need a V8?' "
Inside Line says: If you don't need a V8 and want to save an armload of money, the two new Panamera models may be perfect. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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1duke says:
09:29 PM, 06/15/2010
Dunno why but I love this car!
jesseperry says:
07:07 PM, 06/13/2010
wow, it's almost pointless to explain to some people what a Porsche really is about. some of the comments here are just completely off base.
noburgers says:
09:18 PM, 04/24/2010
At first I was going to use the argument that a G37 was a better bargain, too. Then it dawned on me that the reason for producing a V6 version was to bring the corporate fuel economy average up for the entire brand. So I'm thinking that this model is going to help keep more powerful models in the lineup available, not fill a big demand for non-V8 cars. But I think they would need a still lower price to sell them, at least in the US, unless gas goes to $5/gal. And even then, I don't think you buy a Porsche for its fuel economy.
morethan_a_car says:
11:09 AM, 04/24/2010
What a great fit for some potential buyers - like my 85 year old mother who loves the car but I wasn't comfortable with her driving the more powerful "S" or Turbo. Can't wait to pick one out for her. Don't think she's getting it to compare anyone's d*** with some of the d*** heads posting on this thread. But then again - it could be a senior moment or a bucket list item.
g33t33b33 says:
12:03 PM, 04/16/2010
@gordancin:
I couldn't agree more. Do we really need to give these a-holes we share the road with MORE HP? Most people can't handle the <200HP on their Camries capably. Now I see a articles/postings critical of entry level models like this Porsche or 2011 non-GT Mustangs because they have "only" 300HP. Does wealth=driving ability? Not all that long ago, you really had to know how to turn wrenches and/or spend a lot of money to drive a car with 300+ HP. Now, any douche with 30K is turned loose on the boulevard with lots of power and little training.
That said, the Porsche demographic will always have some level of d*** comparison, it's part of the appeal.
gordancin says:
04:20 AM, 04/16/2010
$75,000 or so for a V6 Panamera? Why not? As a family car with incredible handling, the versatility of a hatchback and an interior that's second to none why not? Why would I care about numbers or whether some clown is jerking himself off because he flew by in a G8? What is this... grade 3? My only concern is that the engine (even though it's volkswagen based), the electrical, computer and mechanical systems run without problems.
Why would anyone car about that "my dad is stronger that your dad" shite?
"My d*** is bigger than your d***." Yeah right. What a waste of time...
gtrb3nz says:
12:44 PM, 04/15/2010
BTW on topic, yea 300hp for 75k, thats a waste of money, cars like this should come wtih 400+ stock and never go below that
gtrb3nz says:
12:43 PM, 04/15/2010
@icecubefosho
the 350z is one of my most desired cars (ive test driven, the whole 9 nine yards, and even ready to purchase), but i would never pick it over a c63 amg, ever. Bang for the buck? K thats cool, you keep your nissan and ill keep the merc. at the end of the day, its just a nissan
mungmibear says:
03:55 PM, 03/22/2010
please do something about the roof line
audirs4 says:
09:28 AM, 02/18/2010
guys, HP is different with German cars. The Japanese and American cars are cheap for a reason. You can't compare the fit, finish and attention to detail in a Panamera with a 40k loaded G35.
The Panamera has one of the best interiors of any car on the market. It can compete with a 150k Bently or any Aston Martin. It's that good.
The handling and chassis is no comparison as well.
You can spend 60 grand for a loaded E class V6, and the car still has less than 270 hp.
300hp/~300 torque is a very very strong V6 motor. Not everybody wants to guzzle gas and an alarming rate and be into a car for 125,0000.