Complete DPN February 2010 - Design Product News

20 Design Product News
Automotive Scene
Porsche’s front engine sedan design
sports a rare hatchback
By Bill Vance
The first Porsche 356 sports car
emerged in 1948 from a converted
sawmill in tiny Gmund,
Austria, where Porsche relocated from
Stuttgart during the Second World War.
Since Ferdinand Porsche (the first) was
the “father of the Volkswagen,” the
Porsche’s rear-mounted, horizontallyopposed,
air-cooled four cylinder engine
and four wheel independent torsion bar
suspension were Volkswagen based.
Although Porsche would divorce
itself from VW as it converted to the 911
model in the 1960s, Porsches remained
rear engined until the 911 was joined by
the 1978 V8 powered model 928. This
was followed in the 1980s by the front
engined, four cylinder 944s. All were
basically two seaters.
Porsche planned to gradually phase
out rear engines but Porsche enthusiasts
objected. They lobbied so effectively that
Porsche discontinued front engines and
stayed with the 911, still with us today
and unique in the world of high performance
sports cars with its engine behind
the rear axle. There are also mid-rear
engined Boxter and Cayman two seaters.
Now Porsche has returned to a front
engined car (it has had front engined
SUVs since 2003) with its new Panamera
sedan. Although there is a distinct family
resemblance to the 911, the similarity
ends there.
The new Panamera four-seater places
Porsche squarely in the Mercedes-Benz,
BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus luxury sedan
crowd, although its hatchback does make
it unusual. Hatchbacks aren’t as popular
in North America as in Europe, but they
are so practical Porsche feels it complements
its first true four passenger car.
The Panamera comes as the naturally
aspirated S, 4-wheel drive 4S, and
4wd Turbo (twin turbochargers with
intercooling). Its revised Cayenne SUV
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