Porsche is planning to introduce a more practical wagon version next year. The brand is to unveil its first station wagon different from the 911 sports car known in Porsche brand. This more utilitarian segment is Porsche's latest strategy following Panamera's second-generation debut this past summer.
Porsche improved new Panamera into a four-door coupe wagon version. The new revamped version is set to be shown at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March. Subsequently, it will go on sale in the following months. This line will mark the brand's latest attempt to extend its portfolio beyond its sports-car label.
The Panamera wagon will be the direct competitor of the Mercedes-Bens CLS Shooting Brake and Audi RS 6 Avant in Europe. The product will specifically target the market preferring a luxurious vehicle that is also practical to use.
CEO of Porsche has also confirmed that U.S. will get a Panamera wagon if it reaches production. However, Panamera wagon will have no competition in the United States as it only has one rear-drive, mid-sized, luxury wagon in the market which is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon. The current generation however is only available as E400 and an AMG E63 model is additionally expected to be official soon.
E-class is a traditional and impressive vehicle; however, it still has an upright wagon proportion and lacks the sleek shape promised by the Panamera wagon.
The E400 has a 329 horsepower twin turbo V6 which is a perfectly competent engine. However, fall short when compared to the standard Panamera which boasts of 440 horsepower V6. It increases in power as you move up to the hybrid with 462 and V8 with 550. These are all engines that would most likely be available for the wagon.
A total of 150,000 Panameras have been sold by Porsche since its roll-out in 2009. Deliveries have however slowed down as the model became older. There is no certainty as to how the wagon model will help increase the sales.
The rake-shape and sleek body of the Panamera wagon is a popular design prefernce in Europe. However, the biggest Porsche markets in U.S. and China want luxury and space. These markets often prefer the more luxurious sports vehicles such as Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan.
