Porsche CEO Matthias Müller has admitted that the Panamera is not a looker and said the next-generation model must improve in terms of styling.
“There have been some small mistakes and we will do it better,” Müller told Australia’s Motoring when asked what the next Panamera will be like. “For example the design could be better,” added the executive, who also said the interior must be improved.
Still, Müller also said he expected the second-generation Panamera to be as successful as the current model, of which more than 100,000 units have been sold.
Porsche’s styling boss Michael Mauer was in charge of the first-generation Panamera and will oversee the design of its successor as well. He says the next-gen Panamera will look better, although some people may still not like it. “I am sure a lot of people won’t like the design of the next generation. And that’s fine by me. I would prefer to have cars and products that polarize rather than being just okay. I think that’s the worst thing for a product. And the new Panamera I am sure there will still be people that don’t like it,” Mauer said.
Porsche’s design chief said the next Panamera would have an even more coupe-like roofline than its predecessor. “You have to recognize it is the new one, but as well recognize that it is the successor. So the car will look different, it will look better, but you will immediately see that it is the Panamera,” Mauer explained.
However, don’t expect the next Panamera to look like the Sport Turismo Concept unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in 2012. Mauer says that body style has not been signed off for production. Let’s just hope the Panamera will at least feature design cues from the study.
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