Porsche appears to be gearing up to reveal a new generation of Panamera, not just another facelift.
Our spy photographers captured some Panamera prototypes recently with what looked like minor changes, and it had appeared the large liftback and wagon were getting a second nip-and-tuck – unusual, considering it just received a facelift in 2021.
Instead, those prototypes appear to have been mules.
There are a few more sheetmetal changes to these two most recent prototypes, suggesting this is more than just another facelift.
This time, two Panamera prototypes were spied testing in the snow, with one looking like an entry-level model and the other looking like a sportier variant.
Rather than a facelift, it appears to be more of an evolution of the current model’s design. It’s unclear when Porsche intends to reveal it though.
Around the side there are different, squarer rear door lines that have been cleverly covered up with black camouflage and painted where the chrome door trim usually is.
There’s also a round fuel filler cap, instead of the squarer one fitted to the current Panamera.
Around the back the rear hatch has a very different design and seems to be more squared-off.
By the looks of both Panamera prototypes, it appears the retractable, active spoiler will carry over to this new model.
There are also slimmer tail lights that are still obscured by camouflage tape. It’s expected this will form a light bar in the production-ready form and continue the design trend seen on many Porsche models.
In the area between the front wheel and front door there’s camouflage which could point towards more aggressive side air vents.
The same can said for behind the rear wheel on the sporty prototype, as it’s also covered by camouflage.
For now the wheel designs appear to be the exact same as the current-generation Panamera. On offer currently are a range of 19- to 21-inch alloy wheels.
Setting this Panamera prototype apart from the current-model at the front are new headlights with a different lighting signature, and an altered front fascia with a larger main air intake and more pronounced side air intakes.
The sporty-looking prototype retains a similar double daytime running light/indicator signature to the current-generation Panamera GTS, Turbo S and Turbo S E-Hybrid models, whereas the entry-level-looking prototype has a different lighting signature altogether.
It combines the typical horizontal daytime running light/indicator with a vertical unit, which appears to be partially obscured by camouflage.
We’re yet to see any interior shots of the new Panamera but it’s expected to receive a cabin overhaul. It could receive the stubby gear selector from the 911 and potentially the fully digital instrument cluster from the Taycan.
It’s unclear what Porsche will do with the engine line-up of this new Panamera.
Currently, the base engine is a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 with 243kW of power and 450Nm of torque.
There’s also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of this powertrain that adds an electric motor and a 17.9kWh lithium battery pack, good for a combined power output of 340kW or 412kW, depending on the variant.
A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine is also available, producing 353kW and 620Nm in the GTS and 463kW and 820Nm in the Turbo S.
Sitting atop the range is the Turbo S E-Hybrid, using a PHEV version of this powertrain with total outputs of 514kW and 870Nm.
The Panamera is a considerably lower volume vehicle for Porsche Australia than even the brand’s sports cars.
Porsche sold just 48 in 2021, against 428 examples of its 911, 256 examples of its 718, and 531 examples of the similarly-sized electric Taycan.
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