The Porsche Panamera->ke1840 made its world debut at the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show,->ke2470 making it one of the youngest Porsche models in the fleet. But after initial resentment over the idea of a four-door Porsche,->ke1 the public has warmed up to the Panamera, making it a huge sales success that Stuttgart saw coming from the very beginning. It’s already 2014 and five years after the Panamera first peeked out of its covers in Beijing, the four-door luxury saloon->ke505 is still flexing its muscles.

Recently, our eagle-eyed spy photographers captured new images of the next-generation Panamera undergoing a fresh round of testing. Compared to the last spy shots we saw of the Panamera back in September 2014, these photos are closer to the subject, showing more of the car and and giving us a clearer look at what to expect when it hits dealerships in 2017.

Our trusted paparazzo also shared some new tidbits about the next-gen Panamera, particularly regarding Porsche’s future plan for the lineup. We know that the luxury saloon is coming, but from what we’re told, Porsche is also planning to build a Shooting Brake version that’s heavily based on the Panamera Sport Turismo Concept that Porsche unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.->ke227

After that, a two-door coupe->ke141 is also being considered as a possible successor to the 928,->ke928 Porsche’s one-time flagship grand tourer that terrorized our streets from 1978 to 1995.

Click past the jump to read more about the next generation Porsche Panamera.

Spy shots

Porsche’s now famous bug-eyed look is still evident in the new Panamera, but the front section does reveal some noticeable changes. The new headlight configuration immediately caught our attention. This is a change we noted with the previous set of spy shots. Another expected change are the side skirts, which complement the increased emphasis on the character lines, giving the new Panamera a sportier look.

Speaking of fierce looks, these photos also reveal a more balanced overall design that fits into the Panamera’s luxury saloon identity. The shoulder line still slopes to the rear, but not as steep as past models. Porsche also appears to have paid more attention to extending the rear end and redesigning it to include bigger taillights and a more systematic lower bumper that now has integrated brake lights.

Why it matters

Raise your hand if you were one of the collective many who were skeptical of the Panamera when Porsche first unveiled it in 2009. You're not going to see it, but yes, I have my hand raised, too.

The argument against the Panamera has been run to the ground countless times. It’s a four-door! It spits on the spirit of the 911! You name it, I probably said it at one point or another.

Fortunately, I’ve never been afraid to admit when I’m wrong, and I certainly was wrong about the Panamera. Porsche proved me and a lot of people wrong when it took a gamble veering away from its bread-and-butter sports cars to offer a saloon that had the best of both luxury and performance.

Outside of the Cayenne, the Panamera is probably responsible for the shift in how people think about Porsche. It didn't just build fast and powerful sports cars, but it showed the industry and the market that it could also roll up its sleeves and create its own segment and become successful with it.

The love and affection people have for the Panamera these days just goes to show that Porsche knew what it was doing all along.