- A U.S. patent was approved February 16, 2010 for the design of a Porsche Panamera convertible.
- The patent is assigned to Porsche, listing Grant Larson as the inventor.
- A European patent is already in place for the same vehicle design sketches.
SANTA MONICA, California — Last Friday Inside Line posted images, sourced from a European patent office, of a Porsche Panamera convertible. There was doubt, both internally and in reader comments ("please... those are so fake, amazing you guys even bother posting this") as to the validity of these images.
But now there is no doubt.
IL has uncovered a United States patent (D610,041 S), filed September 4, 2007 and approved February 16, 2010, assigned to Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Stuttgart, Germany), listing Grant Larson the inventor and bearing the same crude images.
Larson is best known as the designer of the original Porsche Boxster.
Inside Line says: Ugly or not, the Porsche Panamera convertible is real, and it's headed this way. — Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant
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morethan_a_car says:
03:01 PM, 03/21/2010
I haven't driven one yet and was sceptical from reviews and photographs, but after a thorough inspection - the Panamera strikes me as one of the finest four door vehicles produced in terms of design, materials and quality of construction. Porschephiles need to celebrate its addition to the lineup - the 911 model can't carry the company forward on its own. An open touring four door might prove a tremendous draw for a unique market niche. The Cayenne was cursed by the faithful on its introduction, but has become one of the most successful moves Porsche has made in recent history. Given the fact that Dr. Porsche developed the first all wheel drive hybrid in 1906, their move to a hybrid drive offering in the Cayenne and Panamera will serve to highlight the marque's storied history - coming full circle after 105 years.
agnh says:
03:21 PM, 03/16/2010
This is truly an answer to a question that no rational Porsche lover would ever ask.
tbone85 says:
08:53 AM, 03/16/2010
I think most people thought that the picture was more of a fake than the idea of a convertible Panamera. By the way, applying for and getting a patent does not equal producing an actual product. So I don't know that the headline for this article is necessarily accurate either.
jeremy_c says:
06:45 AM, 03/16/2010
Where is the puke bag? I think I am going to be sick.
Porsche has obviously lost their direction. My prediction is that they will be in financial trouble in a year or two with VW buying them out. Look at the hideous paint scheme on the latest GT3, the ugly Panamera and the Cayenne's poor reliability.
The old Beetle/911 design is getting boring. They cannot keep milking that anymore, give us some fresh designs. Look at Ferrari with the new Italia and 599.
kevinucsd says:
05:45 PM, 03/15/2010
It's funny...Remember what Jeremy Clarkson's comment on 4 door convertibles was?
lawboy26 says:
05:41 PM, 03/15/2010
I like the Aston Martin Rapide better, but this should be interesting to see. A lot of people criticized the Cayenne and it became a great seller, so who knows. I do admire Porsche for their daring designs and stepping out of their comfort zones.
icecubefosho says:
04:07 PM, 03/15/2010
The ugliest sedan gets uglier?