Porsche->ke1 has just released the first images of the Panamera’s interior. The inside of the car is both sporty and refined. The car will feature bucket seats for all four passengers. You can shift the 7 speed PDK gearbox from either the buttons on the steering wheel or the beautifully sculpted shifter in the center console that runs the entire length of the interior.

The Panamera will go on sale in Germany this September. The car will be available with a six-speed manual transmission and a 4.8-liter V8. The vehicle will be priced at €102,251 (around $130k USD). The Panamera will arrive in the U.S. a month later and will be priced at a much more reasonable $89,800 for a rear wheel drive 4.8 liter V8 S mode.

There is speculation about a V6 hybrid arriving by 2011, and maybe even a diesel.

This idea of a larger high performance vehicle for 4 is nothing new. BMW has been doing it for years with the M5->ke2922, even Ferrari claim to be able to fit 4 adults in a 612->ke396 but the Porsche's closest rival should be the Maersatti Quattroporte. Other fine examples of high class people movers are the Lamborghini Estoque and the Aston Martin Rapide->ke1082.

Press release after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE

Today, Porsche AG for the first time presents its Panamera four-door gran turismo interior concept. The much-anticipated addition to Porsche's performance lineup will make its U.S. market debut on Oct. 17, 2009.

With a continuous center console that extends from the dashboard to the rear seating area, the Panamera offers a new spatial concept for the driver and passengers featuring optimal ergonomic seating with individual cockpit-like spaces for all. Its deep seating position and a sport steering wheel help give the driver and passengers direct contact with the road. At the same time it provides a generous, roomy environment with exceptional leg and head room, unique qualities in a sporting machine yet essential for grand touring. This individual seating allows for optimum passive safety.

Porsche will provide countless opportunities for individual interior customization with 13 color and material combinations including four two-tone leather interiors and seven interior trim options including carbon fiber to Natural Olive wood.

An available four-zone climate control system gives each seating area individual control of functions such as temperature, air distribution and venting direction. In the unfortunate event of an accident, front, side and curtain airbags help protect the front occupants, while standard rear side airbags help protect those in back. The Panamera S and Panamera 4S feature eight-way power seats in front with a driver memory package. In the rear are two individual seats with a folding rear console and plenty of room. The Panamera Turbo has power seats with a memory package for not only the seat functions but also the electronically adjustable steering wheel. Further seating customization is available through optional alternatives such as 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats or fully adjustable eight-way power seats in the rear.

Porsche for the first time will offer from Burmester® -- the renown Berlin audio manufacturer -- a new ultra high-end surround sound system. With 16 loudspeakers plus a subwoofer (a total of over 2.5 square feet of speaker surface area) and a total output of more than 1000 watts, this new system gives listeners a grand acoustical experience. And like the 2009 Porsche sports cars and SUVs, Panameras will be available with the latest personal electronic connectivity features, including Bluetooth for cellular telephones, Universal Audio Interface for connecting personal audio devices, and satellite radio.

The rear luggage area provides up to 15.7 cubic feet of space, enough room for four large suitcases. The tall space enables luggage to be loaded in an upright position, and with the rear seat folded down the luggage space generously increases up to 44.6 cubic feet.

Initially, all Panameras will be available with two V8 engine options, standard seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch transmissions and rear- or all-wheel drive. All engines feature Porsche Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) for highest efficiency. For additional fuel savings, all Panameras include an engine stop-start function that can turn off and restart the engine at certain times, like when stopped at an intersection or in traffic.

The rear-wheel drive Panamera S has a 400-horsepower, 4.8-liter V8 engine that can propel the it from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds on its way to a top test track speed of 175 mph. The manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) is $89,800. The all-wheel drive Panamera 4S receives the same 4.8-liter powerplant. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, achieves a top test track speed of 175 mph, and has an MSRP of $93,800.

At the top of the Panamera lineup is the Panamera Turbo with its 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8. Also featuring the new PDK transmission, the all-wheel drive Panamera Turbo sets a breathtaking 0-to-60 time of 4 seconds flat and a top test-track speed of 188 mph. The Panamera Turbo has an MSRP of $132,600, and all three Panamera models will go on sale in the United States this October.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., is the exclusive importer of Porsche sports cars and sport utility vehicles for the United States. It is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. PCNA employs approximately 180 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 201 dealers. The dealers, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service. Throughout its 60-year history, Porsche has developed numerous technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, improved safety and spurred environmental innovations within the automotive industry. The company continues to celebrate its heritage by adding to its long list of motorsports victories dating back to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans class win in 1951. Today, with more than 28,000 victories, Porsche is recognized as the world's most successful marque in sports car racing. PCNA, which imports the iconic 911 series, the Boxster and Cayman sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles and soon the Panamera gran turismo for the United States, strives to maintain a standard of excellence, commitment and distinction synonymous with its brand.