The Porsche Panamera was one of the first cars from the German company that offered a practical application with four doors and a hatchback, but what the Panamera offered with practicality it gave up in styling.

For 2013 the Panamera is getting a facelift, and although we have already seen spy photos, there is now some video footage showing off the new design.

Though lightly camouflouged, we can see the new headlight design which is adopted from the new 2013 Porsche Boxster, and some of the new front bumper styling that looks a little more tapered off and less pronounced than the last generation. As the Panamera passes the camera man, the tailight change becomes apparent, and some camo on the back tells us that the rear bumper is getting replaced as well.

Engine upgrades and interior changes for the new Panamera are still unknown.

Watch the video below, straight out of Germany, of the updated Porsche Panamera out for a drive.

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Flashy, fast or luxurious cars tend to be expensive. It should come as no surprise then that they’re also among the most expensive cars to insure.

This list, provided by Insure.com shows us the most expensive cars to insure. Whether they’re more likely to get into an accident because of their high-powered engines, more likely to be stolen, or they’re just expensive to make and maintain, these cars cost quite a lot to insure.

How can a hybrid cost so much to insure? When it’s aBMW 750Li Active Hybrid, which has a twin-turbo V8 and starts at $101,000 it’s easy to see why this big BMW lands in 10th place on the list.

RUF, known for their amazing Porsche creations, looks to have beaten Porsche at creating the rumored long-wheelbase Panamera for the Chinese market.

The tuning specialist decided to take matters into their own hands, creating the Panamera XL, a 211.4-inch long Panamera aimed at the higher-end Chinese market for those who wish to be chauffeured around in true style. The Panamera’s wheelbase has been extended 15.7-inches making it 130.7-inches and the result is one comfortable business lounge for the Chinese fortunate enough to own one.

It comes at a price though, as the stretched Panamera now weighs in at an astonishing 4,321-lbs. It’s still powered by the V8 engine with 414-hp and 376 lb-ft of torque.

GALLERY: RUF Porsche Panamera XL

[Source: Carscoop]

Hamann is bringing a trio of Germany’s finest to the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, unveiling the Porsche Panamera Paragon program, a new tuning program for BMW‘s 6-Series Cabriolet, and rounding off the big German three will be a new version of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Hawk. While this isn’t the first time Hamann has brought the SLS AMG Hawk out to play, it is the first time we’ll be presented with this configuration, featuring a white exterior and black wheels.

While the 6 Series program is expected to be tame, Hamann has a history of some wild creations and with a short list of products already available for the Panamera, the Paragon could be something special, or especially strange.

[Source: GT Spirit]

The Lamborghini Estoque seems to be well on its way to production, and should arrive sometime in 2014. According to a leaked document, the Italian automaker will also be offering a drop top version of the four-door, which will be unveiled one year after the sedan’s debut. The Estoque convertible will likely arrive first in concept form in 2015, and then go into production form for 2016.

Powering both the sedan and convertible is believed to be a new supercharged V10 engine that will first arrive in the Cabrera (the Gallardo’s replacement), which is due out in 2013.

The Estoque would compete with the Porsche Panamera Convertible, which is rumored for 2012.

In addition, Lamborghini is reportedly planning a convertible version of its ultra limited edition Sesto Elemento.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Estoque

[Source: Top Speed]

Sporty or luxurious? BMW or Porsche? Two of Germany’s finest production automobiles have been tuned by Vorsteiner to near perfection, contrasting the M3′s urge to be sporty with the Panamera’s desire to be luxurious. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Vorsteiner’s Candy Cane GTRS3 M3 or their Porsche Panamera V-PT, but enjoying them both in one photo shoot is a real treat.

It’s interesting how seeing both cars in the same frame makes you wonder which you’d rather have as a daily driver. The enticing and menacing widebody M3 or the more refined yet aggressive Panamera? Either way you look at it, Vorsteiner has two winners here and we could only imagine what it was like to spot the two of them prowling the streets of Los Angeles on their way to the photo shoot. Kudos to the tuning company out of California for finding a great way to add style, sophistication and performance without ruining the vehicle itself.

GALLERY: Vorsteiner BMW M3 Candy Cane GTRS3 and Panamera V-PT

[Source: GT Spirit]

Because the stoned-frog Panamera just won’t cut it, Porsche is toying with the idea of a grand touring coupe again—and they’re planning to reintroduce a familiar badge in the works.

The legendary 928 was the fastest production car at one time, a time when it still performed flawlessly instead of being relegated to humiliating $500 beater racing. The new 928 revival will probably not outpace the Bugatti Veyron, but it will damn well try in the same spirit: a super-luxurious two-door, that can do blistering speeds all day. The Panamera can do that, yeah, but with its four doors and melted-cheese styling, it’s made the engineers at Zuffenhausen bored and restless.

Enter the 929, as it could be called. It would be based on a shortened Panamera platform which could also spawn a Bentley coupe, with the Volkswagen conglomerate paying for development costs. Whatever happens, we’ll see it as early as 2014, when the Panamera is set for a refresh.

Of course, rumors of a 928 revival have been floating around since, well, the first 928 was killed off. The next Panamera could even spawn a 928 shooting brake, a Panamera limo, or a 918 Spyder dually ice cream truck. All of these are rumored to come next (the ice cream truck would be for employees only, sadly). Who knows what they’re throwing down in Stuttgart?

[Sources: Cartype]

Russian tuner TOPCAR has added their name to the list of available Porsche Panamera tuning packages with their Stingray GTR program. With it comes some very aggressive styling to the luxury sedan, with TOPCAR’s priority clearly to add more sport than luxury to the Panamera.

This isn’t TOPCAR’s first attempt at a styling package for the Panamera; their first one was well-received but demand emerged for something more aggressive and “charismatic”, and the Stingray GTR is the result of those demands.

The styling package comes complete with all new front and rear bumpers, hood, front and rear fender extenders, front and rear doors and side skirts. That’s right, you’ll be removing and replacing many panels with this kit completely transforming your Panamera to something more fitting of Porsche’s brand name. The overall stance of the Panamera will make you look twice – it’s wider, meaner and sharper. Even more trick is the addition of a small-button push that triggers the opening of the rear doors. All body components and panels are constructed from carbon fiber and Kevlar.

TOPCAR will only be offering 25 Stingray GTR packages, and notes that each vehicle will receive its own special features making them all unique in their own way. The package starts at an impressive $63,500. TOPCAR found it worth mentioning that four of those 25 are already spoken for.

And for those looking for more performance out of their Panamera while TOPCAR is replacing every panel imaginable, they do offer engine tuning programs to bring performance up to 700-hp and Brembo big brake packages can also be incorporated to your build.

GALLERY: TOPCAR Porsche Panamera Stingray GTR

April has been a very good month for Porsche: it saw sales increase by 53 percent, or 11,741 vehicles total. But the cars that skyrocketed during this period aren’t the 911, or any variants thereof.

Diehard Porsche fans are going to rage: what’s selling hot isn’t the 911, or even the Boxster/Cayman duo—it’s the Cayenne and Panamera, the two models most accused of pillaging the brand for all it’s worth. And hybrid models, too! What is Stuttgart coming to?

In fact, Cayenne sales doubled in that time and Panamera sales increased 15%, while sales of the Boxster and Cayman actually lowered by 8.7%. “Every Porsche is the sportiest model in its segment,” said Bernhard Maier, a Porsche board member. “Our customers world-wide love the combination of performance and efficiency, such as in the new Panamera S Hybrid or 911 GT3 RS 4.0.” The 911, meanwhile, stayed relatively steady as before.

Within the same period, North American sales increased 77% in the same month, Porsche’s largest market. And their 2nd largest, China, saw increases of 48.8%, and the rest of Asia increased sales 56.5%.

The two keep giving Porsche incentive to blow their money on awesome things—like racing, or the upcoming 918—and maybe holding off a forcible invasion from jealous neighbors/friends-with-benefits Volkswagen.

While Porsche‘s Panamera’s styling is still a love it or hate it for many, the aftermarket has been progressively turning it into a more “love it” vehicle through some aesthetic changes like Vorsteiner’s V-PT kit. True to Vorsteiner fashion, the V-PT kit for the Panamera consists of subtle and clean lines rather than gaudy and extreme changes. If you’re looking for a classy way to make your Panamera a little more aggressive on the outside, look no further.

The front bumper incorporates a carbon fiber insert that can be removable and replaced if damaged and an optional carbon fiber duct can be ordered to further enhance cooling on the radiator and intercoolers (if you have a Turbo Panamera). The carbon fiber side skirts allow for interesting paint schemes, if you’re into that sort of thing, in order to highlight the high quality carbon fiber Vorsteiner uses in their product.

In the rear, a subtle yet effective Ducktail rear spoiler can be found on the trunk which allows for the factory wing to remain completely functional. The rear consists of an aggressive rear bumper and carbon fiber diffuser which houses a quad-tipped exhaust system quite nicely. The V-PT exhaust can be constructed from stainless steel or titanium.

Last but not least, you can match the V-PT package to a set of wheels from Vorsteiner. Pricing has yet to be released. We’re sure it’s not cheap, but for how nicely this aero kit transforms the lines of the Panamera into something that matches its performance, price really shouldn’t be an issue.

GALLERY: Vorsteiner V-PT Porsche Panamera

Platinum Motorsports is known for bold luxury and exotic builds, and to really put the spotlight on what they’ve done over the recent years, they’ve put together a video of epic proportions. Taking some of their finest projects and hitting several Los Angeles landmarks while armed with a video camera, Platinum Motorsports has released this video that will make any luxury and exotic lover drool.

The video mainly highlights a Lamborghini LP640 with a matte Reventon Grey paint job, along with a Mercedes-Benz SL550 with a Black Series widebody treatment sporting the same shade. In addition, their Premier 4509 widebody Bentley GT Mulliner also steals the spotlight in matte white and we see glimpses of several Range Rovers.

Obviously the point of the video is to spotlight what Platinum Motorsports specializes in, but we can’t help but wonder how awesome Transformers would be if they had these cars in the movie; or what would happen if Fast and the Furious met Gone in 60 Seconds and had a bastard child.

Check out the video after the jump:

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At any given ALMS race, you’re guaranteed to see a field of Porsches on the track at any given minute. These are mostly 997 variants, but now there’s the possibility of catching a glimpse of Porsche’s Panamera and Cayenne at any ALMS race. Ideally, we hope not to see these on the track, given that they’re support vehicles, but it’s nice to see Porsche’s lineup being properly represented at one of the world’s most prestigious race series.

The Panamera Turbo is the official safety car for ALMS; essentially a stock model that has a dome light and paint scheme on it, similar to the well-known Mercedes AMG safety cars. The larger Cayenne SUV will be pulling duties as the medic’s emergency response vehicle, and we really hope that the Cayenne makes a limited number of appearances for that reason alone.

[Source: Autoblog]

GALLERY: Porsche Panamera and Cayenne ALMS Support Vehicles