It may not be one of the most prestigious motoring shows in the world, but the Qatar Motor Show will still feature a steady diet of new vehicles that are going to be catching a lot of attention real soon. One automaker that's already stamped its attendance at the event will be Porsche, and the German automaker is set to bring a special edition, limited-run model exclusively for its Middle Eastern clientele.
Ladies and gentlemen, get set to be introduced to the Porsche Panamera 4S->ke1840 Exclusive Middle East Edition. The special edition Panamera 4S will be exclusively sold in this region and will only be limited to 66 units. It's not going to be one of those cars that we can just buy at any Porsche dealership in the Middle East so we can pretty much expect that this vehicle will be reserved for some of the power players in the region.
Speaking ahead of the car's debut, Deesch Papke, Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa, said: "This is a very special model introduction for us as it underlines the importance of our region. Porsche has never built a vehicle solely intended for the PME region before to meet the unique demands of our customers. We invite all Porsche aficionados to visit the Porsche stand at the Qatar Motor Show and use their chance to see the first of only 66 models worldwide."
Details on the Porsche Panamera 4S Middle East Exclusive Edition after the jump.
2011 Porsche Panamera 4S Middle East Exclusive Edition
- Make: Array
- Model: 2011 Porsche Panamera 4S Middle East Exclusive Edition
- Engine/Motor: 4.8-liter V8
- Horsepower: 400 hp
- Torque: 369 lb.-ft.
- Transmission: 7-Speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Exterior and Interior
Apart from a small commemorative plaque by the door, there really isn’t a whole lot of new additions to this limited edition Panamera 4S. Expect the same front fascia with the strong contoured air intakes that take the place of a conventional radiator grille. The wheel arches offer a slender shape that emphasizes the 911 "landscape" that a lot of Porsche models have been based on for the better part of five decades. The Panamera's rear also offers muscular shoulders over the rear wheels with a swooping roofline that is also a Porsche design tradition. For the Panamera 4S Middle East Edition, Porsche went clean white with the exterior paint by opting for a Carrera White Metallic exterior finish.
Complementing the white exterior is an interior that has been dressed up in Carrera Red leather. The red treatment goes well with an interior that emphasizes the concept of space and comfort. As a four-seater, each occupant enjoys the ergonomic comfort of both the front and rear seats while also having enough room for the luggage compartment to easily fill up all of the passenger's luggage.
Performance
The Middle Eastern Panamera 4S will feature the same powertrain as the standard Panamera 4s model. So expect it to have a 4.8-liter V8 engine that delivers around 400 horsepower and mated to the company’s acclaimed seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission. For this particular model, Porsche added a Sport Chrono Plus package and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system with active four-wheel drive. All these additions round up to a luxury car that can hit 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 175 mph.
2010 Porsche Panamera
Pricing
No word yet on how much one of these 66 special edition models will cost. Based on what we know about the standard model, which sells for around $94,700, we can pretty much expect the Panamera Middle East Edition to be a little more expensive than that, probably even hitting the $100,000 benchmark.
Competition
The Porsche Panamera 4S comes with a number of stiff competitors, including the Audi A8, the Jaguar XJ, the BMW 7-Series->ke323, and the Mercedes S-Class.
For our money, we’re going to say that the most noteworthy of these cars is the A8. It may not be as powerful as the 4S – the A8 has a 4.2-liter FSI V8 engine that delivers 372 horsepower and 328.22 lb-ft torque at 3,500 rpm – but it also comes in a little cheaper than Porsche’s luxury four-door at a base price of a shade under $80,000.