This Week’s Winner: Porsche Panamera
Yes, it is the most hideous thing to have four doors since the Aztek; but the Panamera has earned almost unanimous praise as perhaps the best sport sedan on the market. Porsche may have failed on styling, but it succeeded in bringing the sports car spirit to the Euro saloon. We haven’t touched a Panamera Turbo yet, but we’re beginning to wonder if it is indeed better than our beloved Audi RS4. We didn’t think it could be possible, but Bloomberg, Autoblog, Edmunds, Car and Driver, and Motor Trend are forcing to rethink our attitude.
Ugliness Aside, Bloomberg Makes Panamera Its Top Car
Joining the blind crews of Autoblog and Edmunds comes business group Bloomberg, which was so turned on by the ghastly Porsche sedan so as to select it as Car of the Year. Yeah, nobody gives a rat’s ass about Bloomberg’s auto opinions, but ailing Porsche was quick to send out a press release highlighting the honor.
We still think it’s the ugliest thing on the road.
Image Gallery: Aston Martin Rapide
The Aston Rapide marks the company’s first modern saloon. The car features the routine Aston styling and outstanding interior. The Rapide features a premium Bang & Olufson sound, heated memory seats, track-grade braking, rear-seat LCDs, and an centralized driver OS. The Rapide is equipped with a 6.0 L V-12 generating 470 hp mated to 6-spd. “Touchtronic” gearbox. Top speed will hover around 180 mph, with 60 hit in five seconds. Pricing is set at $200,000 and production is to be between one and two thousand units a year, depending on the pace of demand.
Porsche Crumbles Amid Giant Loss
Due to CEO Wendelin Wiedeking’s failed effort to acquire VW, Porsche’s total 2009 loss came to an astounding €4,400,000,000, or $6,500,000,000. The number is incredible given that Porsche was the most prosperous car company a year earlier, and that Porsche is still an independent automobile manufacturer. (Though that will change as VW reverses the situation and takes a large stake in Porsche.) Looking at the Panamera, we’re not holding much hope for the once-proud German nameplate–but we are loving the new Boxster Spyder.
Porsche Fans Rejoice: Wiedeking is Gone
Porsche’s chief executive officer Wendelin Wiedeking has been fired from the German car company. Wiedeking’s departure is met with that of the company’s chief financial officer, Holge Härter. The two men were “immediately” retired from their posts after months of falling sales and deepening debt.
Wiedeking has been with Porsche for sixteen years and orchestrated the firm’s expansion into sport-utility vehicles and sedans. But Wiedeking’s failed attempt to seize a majority stake in VW left Porsche €9,000,000,000 in debt. Porsche now may become a subsidiary to Volskwagen after being rejected for a state loan.
Wiedeking will leave with a €50,000,000 severance package. Härter will receive €12,000,000. Michael Macht, production director, will take the position as company CEO. Macht, age forty-eight, has been with Porsche since 1990 and has overseen engineering and logistics.
Video: Top Gear’s Panamera Goes Postal
How good is the UK postal service? Well here’s a chance to see how it stacks up with Porsche’s fast and fugly luxury sport sedan, the Panamera. Bless those Top Gear guys…
Porsche to Fans: No New Sports Car–All Hail the Panamera!
Porsche execs have killed off rumors of a new sports car in the lineup. The blogged-of fifth model was to be an entry-level roadster priced below the Boxster–which made no sense since the Boxster is as base as a Porsche can get, while still being good. Instead, execs are fully promoting the visual monstrosity known as the Panamera and insisting enthusiasts ignore the unfavorable financial news which will probably kill CEO Wendelin Wiedeking’s career.
When asked about the decision to not pursue any new sports car development, Porsche USA rep Jan Fuckelbach went into a anti-Semitic tirade, blaming Stuttgart’s misfortune on “them Jews” and calling for the industry’s purification from “corrupting elements.”
Just kidding–Fuckelback is just some homeless guy we found walking by the Porsche dealership at Figueroa in Downtown.
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