Porsche unveiled the second-generation Panamera seven years ago this June, so by rights the automaker should be preparing to unleash a brand new third generation of the speedy gas-powered sedan.
But it looks like Porsche is opting to work with what it’s already got, giving the current car the kind of major makeover its Cayenne SUV brother received earlier this year. That means the dimensions and basic design will be carried over, but we can expect some crucial hardware upgrades under the skin.
Or poking through the skin, in the case of the new LED headlights whose beam can illuminate objects more than a drag strip’s length away. The shape of those light units will also be different next time around, as these new spy shots from Germany’s Nurburgring show. Porsche’s test team has used tape on the fenders and bumper to mimic the shape of the current lights, but we can clearly see that the real units are smaller and more angular than before.
The bank of intakes on the front bumper, on the other hand, has grown much taller, and includes a horizontal slot above the license plate, giving this Panamera, which appears to be a performance derivative, a big extra helping of aggression. And if you look past the fake vent sticker where the front fender meets the door, you can see that Porsche is making some changes to the real vent that it doesn’t want us to know about.
Related: New Porsche Panamera Spied With Cayenne-Like Interior
These at-speed shots show that the Panamera’s extendable rear spoiler is making another appearance, and looking further down the back end of the car we can see that the rear lights have been slimmed down and now appear as one continuous strip running across the tail.
We don’t get a look inside this time, but we know that the Panamera will adopt the recently refreshed Cayenne’s dashboard setup that consists of a 12.6-inch gauge cluster twinned with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen in the center of the dash, and an optional 10.9-inch extra screen available for passengers.
Other advances that could be handed down from the Cayenne include an upgraded PHEV setup that will improve on the current E-Hybrid’s dismal 30-35 mile (48-56 km) electric range, and a 468 hp (475 PS) V8 to replace the 443 hp (449 PS) V6 in the Panamera S. There won’t be any fully electric Panamera, of course: that’s the Taycan’s remit.
Porsche hasn’t revealed a launch date for the new Panamera, but everything points to it being revealed within the next few months. Prices are sure to rise a little, but the base Panamera (currently $92,400 / £72,900) should still be available for less than $100k.
