25/12/2016
“Some liked it, some didn’t like it.”
That’s how Porsche executive Detlev von Platen, former head of Porsche Cars North America, summed up the visual appeal of the first-generation Panamera as we talked with him at the recent world premiere of its all-new successor. Ever since its introduction seven years ago, the Panamera’s styling -- its “bulbous,” “heavy,” “hunchback” rear end specifically -- has been its most talked about trait.
Enough, then.
The Panamera has been wholly redesigned for 2017, and now it’s gorgeous from tip to tail. In typical Porsche fashion the overall aesthetic is instantly familiar, but the changes to the rear end are indeed transformative. By lowering the rear roofline, lifting the rear end and adding a rear side window with a familiar curve, Porsche’s designers crafted a Panamera that’s significantly more stylish and -- as clearly evidenced by the taillight design -- unapologetically more 911-like.
