Is Porsche planning a return for the front-engined grand touring coupe?
Rumours kicked off by Autocar UK, report that Porsche is developing a two-door coupe based on the Panamera executive sedan to rival the new BMW 8 Series and Aston Martin Vantage.
With BMW’s reborn 8 Series on the horizon, it could be argued that we’re seeing a resurgence in the larger-than-life luxury super coupes of decades past.
This new front-engined Porsche is said to be based on a shortened Panamera MSB chassis with increased practicality and interior space over the quintessential 911. Furthermore, Bentley is also rumoured to utilise the same chassis in an offering of their own.
On paper, it points to a lineage carried by the 928, a luxury-oriented front-engined 2+2 grand tourer; though chances are it won’t carry the name (…if it ends up being built at all).
Autocar posed the question to Porsche design boss Michael Mauer, who replied: “As a designer there are no limits to what I can conceive. I believe it is the design department’s role to sketch and consider every model it can for the future so that we are ready should anyone wish to pursue a project”.
However, officially the company remains tight-lipped as Mauer went on to state: “But if you are asking me to confirm is such projects are on the way then you are going to be disappointed. It is not my role to consider such things”.
Is there legs in a market offering from Porsche that sits between the sporty 911, and the big Panamera? That’s for Porsche and the market to decide.
However, it doesn’t seem completely unfeasible – especially given reports that the baby GT-car will similarly utilise the same powertrain options as the Panamera, including a plug-in hybrid option in accordance with overall fleet emissions.
Time will tell. In the meantime, enjoy the rendering we whipped up above.
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