Popularly known for tuning Audis, Sportechnic was present at Tokyo Auto Salon this year with an equal number of Audi and Porsche products. Alongside a Q5 and more highly modified A4 model, sat a Cayenne and a brand new Panamera. The Panamera was mostly stock except for a set of Sportech wheels. We’ll be interested to see where Sortechnic and other tuners (Japanese, German and even American) do with this incredible new platform.

GALLERY: Sportechnic Porsche and Audis

Wheel manufacturer BBS turned to the European market to appeal to the Japanese consumers at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon. The company’s RN wheel was the feature item on a pristine white Porsche Panamera 4S. And in true sensible BBS style, the fitment was conservative, as is the design. That design looks to be the perfect style for the Porsche Panamera: a luxurious one-piece that isn’t too busy or too sporty.

As the Panamera continues to grow on us, this set of BBS wheels is certainly helping.

GALLERY: BBS Porsche Panamera

With the introduction of Porsche’s luxury sedan to the market, it’s no surprise that the aftermarket has already jumped on this platform.  Fairy Design based out of Japan has taken their Panamera and designed quite the attractive body kit for it.  Gone is the traditional Porsche front bumper styling in exchange for something much more noticeable, aggressive and fitting to the Panamera’s bodylines.  A set of 21-inch HRE wheels in a matte black finish does a great job flowing the front lip, side skirts and rear diffuser into one attractive package.

GALLERY: Fairy Design Porsche Panamera

Porsche’s new CEO has said that the German sports car maker is open to sharing the Panamera platform with other Volkswagen Group brands. He even went so far as to say that (gasp!) the iconic 911 platform could be used across brands.

Michael Macht, the new Porsche boss who was practically hand picked by Volkswagen to run the brand after the former CEO was ousted, has said that he would like Porsche to operate as an independent but cooperative pillar within the expanding VW Group umbrella. “Porsche needs to become a strong pillar of VW, as well as having its own production and research and development capabilities. It is important to 
use synergies as well as having independence,” he said in an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar.

Ever since Porsche’s attempt to take over Volkswagen failed and VW turned the tables by buying Porsche, rumors of product sharing started popping up. Stoking those flames were reports that Volkswagen would cut the Panamera, leading some to speculate that the new vehicle would live on as an Audi, Bentley or Bugatti product. This, however, is the first we have heard about opening up the 911 platform for use by other automakers.

Macht did say that apart from the V6 engine that will find its way into an upcoming Panamera model, Porsche would not use any other VW powerplants.

Porsche is also rumored to be working on a smaller sports car that would fit in under the Boxster. Thought to be based on the VW BlueSport, Macht said that such a car would have to be “exclusive,” which could mean that if a Porsche does get the sports car platform, neither VW nor Audi would.

[Source: AutoCar]

Porsche’s new owners at Volkswagen are aiming to make some big changes at the German sport car maker, including eliminating any models that aren’t sports cars. That’s right, both the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sedan are reportedly on the chopping block, according to a recent report in the U.K.’s CAR magazine.

In an article an unnamed source says that Volkswagen’s board has voted to kill off both models after their current life-cycles, which should stretch until around 2016.

“VW Group has plenty of SUVs and saloons [sedans], it doesn’t need Porsche to build them,” said an inside source to CAR.

VW and Porsche CEO Ferdinand Piech is leading the charge to return Porsche to a pure sports car company and leave sedans and SUVs to other areas of the 10-brand conglomerate. For our part, we hope the Panamera can live on in a second generation vehicle as some sort of stylish Audi.

This move is bolstering rumors that Porsche will bring to market a car something along the lines of VW’s BlueSport Roadster Concept, that fits in below the Boxster. Ideally this new model would keep the Porsche brand pure, while enabling high volume sales.

[Source: CAR via LeftLaneNews]

Porsche might not be in the running for the title of the fastest sports car on the famed Nürburgring, but it can now claim the fastest lap by a sedan. According to a report in German auto pub Auto Sport, the four-door Panamera recently flew through the Green Hell in a time of just 7:56 – three seconds faster than the Cadillac.

Driving the 500hp Panamera Turbo to this new record was legendary World Rally Championship (WRC) racer and official Porsche test driver Walter Röhrl.

Until now the CTS-V has held the record since May 9, 2008, when it blew away its German competitors and was the first sedan to ever run a sub-eight minute lap.

With the current situation at GM it’s unlikely the company will seek to take back its record by running the CTS-V again. We suppose they can always take solace in the fact that the big American sedan costs less than half of a Panamera Turbo; the Turbo retailing for $132,600, and the CTS-V costing just $59,995.

[Source: Sport Auto]

The product offering for Porsche’s new Panamera looks to mimic that of the Cayenne SUV as news surfaces that the German sports car maker is looking at a high performance model of the sedan, as well as diesel offerings.

All that we know about this new Panamera is that it will do away with the air suspension offer on the current models in favor of more traditional coil springs. What isn’t clear is if the even sportier Panamera will be a Turbo S model with power closer to the 550hp mark, or if it will be a GTS model, with less power but a more track-ready focus. And if it is a GTS model, will Porsche offer it with orange-painted wheels?

As for the diesel engine, Porsche is reportedly looking into equipping the Panamera with a choice of two diesels – both of which will come from the Volkswagen Group. The first is the 240hp, 3.0-liter V6 unit from cars like the Audi A6, which can currently be found in Porsche’s Cayenne SUV. The other is a 322hp 4.2-liter V8 from the Audi A8.

[Source: AutoCar]

Porsche has reportedly asked the German government for a $2.5 billion loan, adding to speculation that the automaker is in financial trouble.

Much of Porsche’s money problems stem from the company overextending itself in its failed bid to take over Volkswagen, a move that, if successful, would have added $10 billion to Porsche’s coffers. As a result of the unsuccessful attempt the automaker now has a $12 billion debt load.

Like any other automaker these days Porsche is struggling with decreased sales. Profits will likely be high enough to make interest payments on the company’s debt, but not enough to pay it off.

Then again, according to German magazine Der Spiegel Porsche apparently skirted bankruptcy in March for three days by securing a $978 billion loan from VW.

Porsche is also likely to see a spike in both sales and profits in the near future as the Panamera arrives in dealerships. Perhaps it will be the company’s savior, like the the Cayenne was back in 2002.

[Source: LeftLaneNews and Autoblog]

We’re not really sure there’s anything left to show or tell, but yesterday Porsche officially took the wraps off the Panamera sedan at the Shanghai Auto Show. The move is a bold one for Porsche, as the Panamera marks the German sportscar maker’s first sedan. Holding a world-premiere in China, also sends a clear statement about how important Porsche views expansion into that market.

”Introducing the Panamera, we are entering a market segment completely new for our customers and we are once again consistently expanding our model portfolio,” said Klaus Berning, VP of sales and marketing at Porsche AG.

As the first all-new model from Porsche since the Cayenne debuted in 2002, the Panamera will initially be offered in three models, the 400hp Panamera S and all-wheel drive Panamera 4S, as well as the 500hp Panamera Turbo.

The Panamera seats four adults and Porsche says rear seat room will be significant – as will cargo capacity. And while Porsche say the vehicle will be a performance leader in the 4-door Gran Turismo segment, it also says it will be a leader in fuel-economy with an average of 22 mpg.

Helping to achieve that fuel-economy rating is a world’s first start-stop automatic transmission. And that’s not the only innovation on the Panamera. Porsche has also equipped the car with a segment-first active rear spoiler (for Turbo models), as well as Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with an air suspension that can add extra air (for even more ground clearance) when required.

“Our engineers, technicians, and designers have invested all their know-how, years of experience, a wealth of ideas, and their full passion for sports cars in this four-seater Gran Turismo,” said Porsche AG R&D boss Wolfgang Dürheimer.

The Panamera will go on sale this fall with an MSRP of $89,800 ($115,100 CDN), the Panamera 4S will retail for $93,800 ($120,300) and the Panamera Turbo will start at $132,600 ($155,000 CDN).

A six-cylinder model and a hybrid version will follow later.

GALLERY: Porsche Panamera

Official release after the jump:

We’ve been torn over what to think of the design of the Panamera ever since the first spy photos came out. First we hated it. Then we liked it just a little. Now we know why our opinion keeps changing.

Porsche has just released the official photos of the car and opinions seem to change depending on the angle. It does look an awful lot like a wagon. Plus, the fact that the rear seats fold flat for increased cargo area doesn’t help Porsche’s case that the car is a grand-touring sedan.

The Panamera’s functionality is certainly intentional and we suspect some of the reason is to keep Cayenne buyers interested in the Porsche brand as the demand for SUVs (like the Cayenne) diminishes.

Porsche says the Panamera will be offered in several models, shown here are the Turbo (in silver) and the 4S (in blue). Power will be anywhere from 300 to 500 hp depending upon the model. Plus, Porsche says a Hybrid powerplant will be available in the near future. Two transmissions will be offered, including a six-speed manual (thank you Porsche) and the new 7-speed PDK double-clutch system.

Regardless of what we say about the looks of this car, Porsche is expecting huge things for the model with annual sales projected at 20,000 units worldwide!

Full press release and more photos after the jump: