Porsche has been spotted test driving a prototype version of the second-generation Panamera ahead of its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.
Perhaps the most important update for the 2017 Panamera will be the adoption of an all-new platform, called the MSB. It’s taken from the Volkswagen Group umbrella and is set to see big reductions in weight and improved dynamics.
The MSB platform will underpin a number of upcoming premium sedans under the group empire, potentially including a sedan Lamborghini which has been rumoured, and future Bentley models.
In its current state the Panamera is quite a heavy beast but the new platform is expected to see kerb weight drop by around 100kg. This will make a big (positive) difference to handling, performance, and efficiency.
Panamera sales haven’t been going as good as the company might have hoped lately, with the sedan reporting the lowest sales figure out of the showroom lineup during 2015.
In Australia, the Panamera is the least popular model as well. Local sales figures have dropped from 103 during 2011, to 81 in 2013, to just 56 during 2015. It was overshadowed by the Maserati Quattroporte last year, which reported 59 sales.
Porsche is going to want to make sure the second-gen model enters the market with some impressive credentials. The exterior design, although camouflaged in the video below, is likely to undergo a neat makeover, while on-board technology is also expected to be amped up. A shooting brake wagon variant might also be launched to spice up the range.
Click play on the spy video below for a preview, and to have a listen to the meaty V8 soundtrack. All will be revealed at the Paris show, opening to public on October 1.
