Fresh off the unveiling of the long-awaited second-generation Panamera, the company’s chief executive has confirmed that the new model will spawn a series of different body styles to appeal to a wider customer base.
Apart from the saloon, a Shooting Brake version of the new Panamera is in the works, as is a third derivative closely related to 2012’s Sport Turismo concept, a car that heavily influenced the new Panamera, and a long-wheelbase variant.
While speaking with Motoring recently, Oliver Blume said this LWB car “will be very important for the Chinese market, but it will be available elsewhere as well.”
The automaker’s head of design Michael Mauer added that “Porsche has a long history of building derivatives of models, so it’s no secret that there will be more versions of the Panamera. You will be surprised… it will look great [referring to the Shooting Brake]”.
The new MSB architecture makes the development of different body styles easier. In fact, the platform is so flexible that it’s already been confirmed for use in the next-generation Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur.
As it stands, the second-gen Panamera is offered with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, a petrol-powered 4.0-liter V8 and a turbodisel 4.0-liter V8. However, Blume confirmed that, as with the outgoing Panamera, the new one will also be offered with performance-oriented plug-in hybrid systems in due course.
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