On April 19th, 2009, Porsche unveiled the Panamera range on the 94th floor of the World Financial Center in Shanghai.
It was the first four-door GranTurismo vehicle in the Porsche lineup.

The general public had to wait until the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show to see the new model. The car-maker didn’t start with the entire range. It showed only the S, the S4, and the Turbo versions. While the world was recovering from the financial crisis, the new car emerged as a great value for the new managers and former Porsche 911 drivers.

The Panamera’s headlights resembled those installed on the Cayenne. The profile resembled an elongated 911 or the 989 concept-car. On the front fenders, two vents were used to extract the air within the wheel-well and decrease the front-lift effect. In the back, the taillights resembled those found in the Cayman. In the back, on the trunk-lid, a retractable wing was installed. It was automatically extended at speeds over 120 kph (74.5 mph).

Inside, the Panamera Turbo designers took their inspiration from the Vertu luxury mobile phones. A four-seat layout was the only option, with a big center console that separated the driver from the other passengers. In the back, there was a decent room for adults and since it was a hatchback it could get an impressive amount of luggage. The dashboard was typical for a Porsche, with round dials and centrally-mounted tachometer. Despite its hatchback shape, the rear passengers had enough legroom and headroom.

As a top of the range version, the Panamera Turbo featured the same 4.8-liter V8 engine from the S-version, but with a pair of turbochargers that increased the power from 400 hp to 500 hp. It was available exclusively with a 7-speed automatic (PDK double-clutch) gearbox and all-wheel-drive.