When the Porsche Panamera first debuted, I remember it like yesterday. It was at Auto Shanghai and they had to use a special device to get them up to the party, which was at some swank location. Agent 001 was there and it was a huge deal.
I mean, it was the first four-door Porsche — Cayenne aside.
One of the most critical observations 001 made though was that this was a landmark vehicle because it would change the large luxury sedan game. And, he was right. Large luxo barges have continuously tried to become more sporting and have done their best to have some chutzpah and add panache to their designs and driving dynamics. They haven't had much success, in all honesty.
The problem is, of course, that the Porsche can do it all. It can be a luxury cruiser that absorbs bad potholes and it can be an utter beast on the track although that's not where I'd put it.
And for 2014, it gets even better. Though it seems folks are a bit preoccupied with the plug-in hybrid, which in all honesty won't matter — look at Panamera Hybrid sales — I think the big news is the long-wheelbase variant.
The standard Panameras were already roomy. I know because at the North American launch I sat behind some obese guy that was around 6'2 and even at 6'8 I had plenty of room in the backseat. So, by adding 5.9 inches of legroom is going to make this thing absolutely cavernous.
That said, has Porsche created the BEST limo on the planet? Are the A8, S-Class and 7-Series long wheelbase models essentially void at this point?
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2014 Porsche Panamera Photo Gallery
