Porsche has a hit on their hands with the full-size luxury-preformance sedan called Panamera. To make this high-preformance car a bit greener, they have introduced a hybrid version.
It's hard to believe that two years has passed since the introduction of the Panamera luxury-performance sedan from Porsche. Just like the Cayenne, the other non-sports cars from Porsche, it sells very well and Porsche has hopes that this car will account for twenty five percent of their overall volume. Like most German high-end car companies, Porsche has a problem on their hands. In order to meet new and very stringent fuel standards coming in 2016, Porsche has to invent ways to reduce fuel but also remain relevant to the buyers that want speed and handling-- usually performance and thriftiness have been mutually exclusive. To combat this Porsche has introduced a very advanced hybrid system and deployed it in the Cayenne SUV and this Panamera, with very good effect.
The Skin
The reason I bring up the short time that the Panamera has been around is the change in attitude about this design in the two years it has been out. Before the car was seen in person, pictures were all the public had to go on, and the first impressions were not good. Porsche web forums lit up all kinds of descriptions including a ''Humpback Whale''. The reality is, in person, and especially after driving the Panamera it becomes more and more appealing. The long, rear roofline and hatch design might have similarities to a Humpback Whale but the design also has a practical side. In order to make the rear seats comfortable for tall passengers the roof was stretch and the hatch design is perfect for buyers that are used to an SUV. In hybrid form the only differences are subtle badging on the side and back of the car. The green paint featured here is called Crystal Green and comes with a $3590 fee. Not sure I want to be this green!
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