A lack of wing mirrors is the only visual signal that the new Porsche isn’t ready for the showroom just yet, but its otherwise production-ready appearance means that it’s all but confirmed for production by senior management. Ferdinand Piëch displayed a knowing smile as the audience at the VW Group night – preceding the opening day of the Paris Motor Show – rose to applaud the new car.
The Sport Turismo not only previews a new addition to the Panamera family (expected to expand in its second generation due to customer feedback), but also a new plug-in hybrid drive system developed in-house. Mated to a 3.0-litre petrol V6, the electric motor provides an additional 94bhp for a combined total of 410bhp. That’s 35bhp more than the existing Panamera hybrid, while still apparently providing more than 80mpg.
The sporting estate niche is one which seems to be particularly style-led, and this will be no different with Porsche’s opening effort. A long, sweeping bonnet and tauter surfacing help eliminate the often-criticised aesthetics of the current Panamera, while twin-stacked LED headlights further enhance the contemporary look of the concept. At the rear, the tail-lights take on a slimmer profile in line with other recent Porsches, while a reflector strip connects them in a vein traditionally associated with the 911 Carrera 4.
Disappointingly for some, a production version of the Sport Turismo concept is likely to be a few years away yet. The current Panamera is yet to receive a major mid-life facelift, so the second-generation estate and other possible spin-offs will have to wait in the developmental wings at Zuffenhausen for the foreseeable future.
Photos: Porsche
