The Panamera turned out to be the best decision Porsche->ke1 has made in the past few years, and with this kind of success, there's no shame in exploiting the sheer beauty of the Panamera by also offering it as a convertible. It's also not surprising considering that when the Panamera debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show, rumors were already circulating that the German manufacturer was already planning for the drop top version. Those rumors were later confirmed by some patent applications and hence the Porsche Panamera Convertible was born. We expect to see it sometime in 2012.
Unlike the standard hard-top Panamera, the convertible version will come in a two-door variety, partly to increase the car’s rigidity and compensate for the added weight that comes with the soft-top roof.
Wolfgang Duerheimer, Porsche’s development head, said in a previous interview: "We have a broad range of 14 derivatives of the 911 that are very successful. So it stands to reason we should diversify the line-up for the Panamera as well." Of course, we don't expect to see 14 new models based on the Panamera, but Porsche would be insane not to learn from the success of the many 911 models. Now all we have to do is wait and see if this first version will prove to be a money-making idea.
2012 Porsche Panamera Convertible
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- Model: 2012 Porsche Panamera Convertible
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Exterior and Interior
Despite the fact that the convertible version will drop two doors, it will remain a Panamera. Expect to see the same individual, strongly contoured air intakes, a V-shaped hood, striking, muscular shoulders over the rear wheels, and, oobviously, a new soft-top roof.
For the interior Porsche will offer the highest luxury materials and all the latest technologies. Like with the sedan, the driver will be able to choose from either a particularly comfortable or an especially sporting set-up most conveniently at the touch of a button.
Engine Line-up
No major changes will be made for the engine line-up. Expect to see the same V6 and V8 engines as in the sedan. Customers will have to choose from a 4.8-liter V-8 that gets 400 horsepower with 369 lb-ft of torque, a twin-turbo V8 with 500 horsepower with 568 lb.-ft or torque, or a 3.6-liter V6 with Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) developing 300 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque.
The Competition
While waiting for a production version of the Mercedes Concept Ocean Drive, the future Panamera Convertible will take on the usual Bentley->ke15 and Rolls-Royce->ke74 models.
When Can I Buy One?
The Panamera Convertible will debut sometime in 2012. Expect to pay a few more thousand dollars compared to its sedan brother, priced from $74,400 to $135,300.