The Shanghai Auto Show, which opened yesterday, is an important show not only for Asia, but for Porsche as well. Porsche unveiled the Panamera on Sunday to officially kick off the show. Here’s some excerpts from The Associated Press about Porsche’s important event:
Porsche kicked off the show on Sunday night by unveiling the Panamera, the German automaker’s first foray into the luxury sedan segment. Porsche said its decision to reveal the vehicle in China signals the rising importance of the country’s auto market.
Porsche sales in Asia more than doubled in its 2007-2008 fiscal year to 7,600 vehicles, the company said.
“This is a clear signal that we count on these markets and have full confidence in their future economic potential,” Porsche Chief Executive Wendelin Wiedeking said in a statement.
Like the company’s Cayenne SUV, the new four-door Panamera will be built at Porsches plant in Leipzig, Germany. It will be entering the market in Europe, South America and parts of Asia in September 2009, in North America and Australia in October, and in China in early 2010. [Via The Associated Press]
How cool is this unveiling???:
A dark gray Panamera rolled onto a stage Sunday night on the 94th floor of the 1,614-foot Shanghai World Financial Center, the tallest building in mainland China, having been wedged nearly vertically into an elevator barely wide enough for the task. [Via New York Times]
What a great location to roll out a brand new model.
Interesting note about the anticipated buyers of the Panamera, at least in China. Since the Panamera offers a spacious back seat, it’s anticipated that the sedan will be used as a chauffeured car which is common in China for the wealthy. Also, Porsche expects that 90% of Panamera buyers will be first time Porsche owners.
Here are some links to various sources covering the show:
MotorTrend.com – Pre-show write-up
New York Times – Nice article about the Panamera
Sub5Zero.com – Couple of cool Panamera videos
like i’ve said in previous comments, i’m not a fan of the panamera but this picture makes me go, “oh?”
I think the statement that 90% of Panamera owners will be first-time Porsche buyers is interesting. I’m anxious to check it out when it comes to a showroom near me in October.
The description of the unveiling at the auto show was very well done. Makes me want to go see it.
I would have loved to see them trying to get that car in an elevator. ‘Don’t scratch it boys’!
They should have airlifted it by helicoptor onto the roof, that would have been cool.
I’m still not convinced Porsche isn’t just buying Maserati Quattroportes and slapping their logos on. That car is a direct knockoff. I’m really disappointed with the Panamera.
I’ll stick with a 911 and not have kids