Driving Sports

For years, Porschefiles and detractors alike have insisted that the 911 is a triumph of engineering over physics, that there is no conceivable reason why a 911 should be a good-handling car. Now it seems that Porsche has struck again, this time with a design that is a triumph of bad styling over good taste. Behold, the Porsche Panamera. That Porsche has been working on a brand new 4-door sports sedan is no secret, but today Porsche unveiled the first official photos, and it is hideous. Like the Cayenne SUV before it, it is an exercise of trying to make something that is decidedly not a 911 into a 911.

“Porsche’s unique four-seater was conceived and designed as a four-door grand touring sports car, combining numerous talents in typical Porsche style: sporting driving dynamics, a spacious interior, and the supreme comfort of a Gran Turismo.”

So says the press release, but that does not save it from being just, weird. The Maserati, BMW M5 and Mercedes AMG are all rather good looking cars that look the part. Sleek and rakish and yet utilitarian; you can still convince yourself if you soft focus enough, that these are actually family sedans. But with the Porsche, no matter how soft you go in your focus, it will still just look weird. The car should be available next year as a 2010 model, look for it wherever 911s are sold.