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Gautam Sharma19 Mar 2014
NEWS

New platform, engines for next-gen Panamera

Zuffenhausen's next-generation four-door sedan should be lighter and faster, courtesy of an all-new chassis and Porsche-developed V6 and V8 engines
The next-generation Porsche Panamera, due in 2016, will usher in an all-new MSB platform with a sporty range of V6 and V8 engines developed by the German sports car specialist.
According to a report in UK’s Autocar magazine, the new architecture and powertrains will also be used in other Volkswagen Group offerings, including the next-gen Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur.
The publication goes on to suggest the new petrol motors will have a more sporting character than the existing VW/Audi Group engines, but it’s yet to be decided which models outside of the Porsche range will receive them.
Autocar quoted Porsche chief engineer Wolfgang Hatz as saying, “Porsche will have its own new V8 that will be common to the new MSB platform. It’s a family for the next 10 years of cars.”
The current-gen Panamera has been around since 2009, but received a round of cosmetic and mechanical upgrades in 2013 as part of a midlife facelift.
Conceived before Porsche became part of the Volkswagen Group, the current Panamera rides on a unique platform that sources some components from the Cayenne SUV.
Adopting underpinnings that will be shared with other VW Group models will obviously yield economies of scale for the next-gen Panamera, although whether this is reflected by sharper pricing remains to be seen.
The MSB platform is a modular architecture that can reportedly be adapted to a range of track widths, wheelbase lengths and seating positions, making it suitable for a range of applications – including rear-drive and all-wheel-drive formats.
It makes extensive use of high-strength steel and aluminium, aiding efforts to reduce kerb weight for the new model. The existing Panamera weighs a hefty 1870kg in base form, with the range-topping Turbo S tipping the scales at a lardy 1995kg.
Expect the 2016 Panamera to come in somewhat lighter, helping boost performance, economy and agility. 
Although the current Panamera is offered in a single body style, the next-gen model may feature a shooting brake derivative inspired by the Sport Turismo concept that debuted at the 2012 Paris motor show.
Autocar suggests Porsche is also considering a two-door Panamera with hard and soft tops, and the new platform has reportedly been designed to enable these variants to be spun off.

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Written byGautam Sharma
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