Porsche mulling Panamera and Taycan Merger

[j.w.s]

Well you could argue that we have that already with the Taycan (since 2019) and Macan. What happened to the "optimisation" you could ask?

Battery tech lags the receiving architecture. Taycan range hasn't really kept up.

I call the J1 platform that underpins the Taycan an EV-specific architecture. Yes it re-uses lots of Panamara suspension parts, but there is absolutely no room anywhere in the overall platform to add a ICE engine, drive shaft, exhause, etc. It does not have Lucid levels of efficient packing, sure, but it is an EV-optimized platform.

The new BMW CLAR platform, by way of contrast, is "modular" to support any combination of propulsion, which means that here and there and everwhere there are compromises for each type, and bits of room allocated to things like engines, batteries, drive shafts, exhaust tubing, etc regardless of whether or not they exist in a given car.

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[MissionE]

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/porsche-mulls-merging-taycan and-panamera-single-model

Knew it. And it makes perfect sense. 960 for the win.

 

[MissionE]

Just hope they retain the Taycan dimensions... Panamera looks and feels huge...Taycan is already huge/wide. Getting through London restrictions is already hard lol

Yeah when people say they’re basically the same size. No.

 

[Murph7355]

Well you could argue that we have that already with the Taycan (since 2019) and Macan. What happened to the "optimisation" you could ask?

Battery tech lags the receiving architecture. Taycan range hasn't really kept up hence the opportunity.

I don't think battery tech's that big a deal.

Keep the overall pack the same size and what cells go in it should be largely irrelevant.

If it weren't Porsche we're talking about, it should be easy to imagine an alternative chemistry in the same pack (I believe they've done this to a very small degree in the J1.2). If/when solid state comes out, drop those cells (lesser number for same range, same number for greater range etc) into the pack and away you go.

Manufacturers need to be thinking much more like this IMO. Cars are so expensive now, and the sustainability angle so dire for any new car that extending the life of a perfectly good platform should be something they actively engineer in.

Sadly Porsche's accountants still think it's the 90s.

 

[bjsc1100]

I had a Panamera 4 ST and then a Taycan GTS ST. Dimensions are pretty much the same and not as different as you might think. (both 4+1). Way back then I often thought that the Panamera would be retired as the two models were effectively too close for comfort and sales of the Panamera typically low in general.

Had Porsche thought about it they should have made the PPE (Porsche Platform Electric) architecture more flexible to additionally accommodate the hosting of both petrol and hybrid powertrains - this sounds like what might be coming now.

In truth the Taycan is wider with the mirrors in.

I didn't find the dimensions an issue and was already accustomed to it.

I sadly kept a record of each car I had for the purposes of checking garage dimensions and in particular width tolerances. Here's the relevant sample:

Model	Length MM	Width MM (mirrors in)	Width MM (mirrors out)
Taycan 4S	4963	1966	2144
Taycan GTS ST	4963	1966	2144
Panamera 4 ST	5049	1937	2165

Specification	Panamera 4 Sport Turismo	Taycan GTS Sport Turismo
Length	198.9 in	195.4 in
Width (w/o mirrors)	76.3 in	77.4 in
Height	56.1 in	54.8 in
Wheelbase	116.2 in	114.2 in
Curb Weight	~4,374 lbs	~5,152 lbs
Ground Clearance	5.0 in	5.0 in

 

[JackSparrow]

J2.0 is likely to be platform shared or even consolidated onto an existing upcoming platform.
It would be wise to do some cost take out for J2.0, not sure the market for $250k sports sedans/wagons is very large. I would expect some of the design features found in the new Cayenne will find their way into 2.0 as well.
Expect New tech Battery, 400+ mile EPA range, Some physical controls to return, and even more insane power levels. Not sure the 2 speed transmission will survive.
I look to the Ferrari Luce and VW’s very limited retreat to some physical controls as evidence of better human factors engineering winning out.
This is nothing but speculation and wishful thinking on my part.

 

[uniqueMR]

Not a good idea!! Prefer Taycan looks over Panamera. Never been a fan of Panamera..

 

[W1NGE]

I call the J1 platform that underpins the Taycan an EV-specific architecture. Yes it re-uses lots of Panamara suspension parts, but there is absolutely no room anywhere in the overall platform to add a ICE engine, drive shaft, exhause, etc. It does not have Lucid levels of efficient packing, sure, but it is an EV-optimized platform.

The new BMW CLAR platform, by way of contrast, is "modular" to support any combination of propulsion, which means that here and there and everwhere there are compromises for each type, and bits of room allocated to things like engines, batteries, drive shafts, exhaust tubing, etc regardless of whether or not they exist in a given car.

That's not what I meant. Porsche developed the PPE (Porsche Platform Electric) platform for the Taycan.

Now they're thinking of merging this with the Panamera which uses the Volkswagen Group MSB platform (Modularer Standardantriebsbaukasten).

To merge would need a new platform which could have been developed at the outset of the Taycan.

 

[AtTheGlen]

About 10 years ago, I mentioned to the GM at my dealership at the time that Porsche should build a two-door Panamera GT to compete with Aston Martin, Bentley (would VW allow it?), the then M-B S-Class Coupe (now you could say the AMG GT3), and BMW 6-series coupe. None of these would appeal to me as much as a Porsche offering in this niche.

As you've probably noticed, there are no two-door Panamera GTs on the road or the configurator. About 4 years ago, I told the sales manager at my dealership at the time that Porsche should build a two-door Taycan GT. He said: "It's not going to happen. Only you and I would be driving it." Same story, no sightings in the wild or on my PC.

With Porsche's need to reduce expenses and consolidate model lines, I am pretty sure that it will never happen. Reviewers have referred to the 911 Turbo S as a GT car in a very positive way. I had a 2021 992.1 Turbo S coupe, and I always thought of it as a sports car. The driving experience in my '25 Taycan GTS is remarkably satisfying on twisty roads. The instant power delivery compared to even a high-HP I.C.E. car like a Turbo S is stunning. (The Avatar is the '23 GTS we traded during a fall 2025 dealership "special opportunity" for the '25)

OK. That's the end of my ramble. Happy driving.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

I am also guessing that we will see a combined Panamera and Taycan (a Pana-Can or whatever they name it), though whether it too would be punished out an additional model year???

If merged platofrms as noted above, there wold be at least three different P-cars on the new platform, and could even be a full six models (ICE, EV, hybrid Pana-Cans to start with). As to how many further viriations there could be of just the EV Pana-Can, only time would tell.

The reason I am wondering out loud as to when the new merged platform would be out for ordering before the 2029 MY is two-fold, i.e., first, we have seen nearly consistent delays in P-car new model releases (especially anything which has an EV component), and second, if TheDrive is right that the 2027 Taycan is going to have both major software enhancments as wells as a new virtual sound-and-gearing PDK, as Porsche historically goes at least two years between anything more than next year model minor enhancements, might the J2 Taycan (in whatever merged form it arrives, be instead a 2029. However, we shall get some good info in just 1 to 1/2 to 2 days with Porsche’s annual financial report release, our seeing then if their profits and market share has been again dismal or conversely showing signs of even a minor rebound. If not, personally believing cash flow alone could push out until 2029 for the Pana-Can’s merged arrival.

 

[prj]

That's not what I meant. Porsche developed the PPE (Porsche Platform Electric) platform for the Taycan.

Now they're thinking of merging this with the Panamera which uses the Volkswagen Group MSB platform (Modularer Standardantriebsbaukasten).

To merge would need a new platform which could have been developed at the outset of the Taycan.

There is no such thing as "porsche platform electric"...

PPE is Premium Platform Electric. It is developed for use on premium brands of VWAG. It is the current platform for all VWAG premium EV's. For example the Macan and the Q5 are on that platform, also the Audi A6 e-tron, the new Cayenne EV and so on.
PPC is Premium Platform Combustion. Same as the above, except for ICE powered cars.

The Panamera is MSB (with the Bentley Continental GT), old platform. The J1 is closely related to that. For J1.2 they took the rear motor from the PPE - as that's the latest tech VWAG has access to.
They are both actually very closely related to MLB Evo, which is the old Audi longitudinal engine platform - at least all the electronics are interchangeable between them.

Because all this is bankrupting Porsche, then most likely all the four door stuff will be PPE/PPC going forward and the only bespoke Porsche cars will be the 911's and then if a 718 replacement ever comes out.

This means that there will not be a Taycan anymore. There however will very likely be an Audi A6 e-tron with Porsche panels and interior trim as the successor to the Taycan, which will be the Panamera EV.

So we will have on PPE:
Macan EV (related Audi Q6)
Cayenne EV (new Q8 e-tron that will come out)
Panamera EV (related Audi A6 e-tron)
Technically can drop the e-tron moniker, as going forward all Audis with odd numbers are ICE and even numbers are EV.

Then on PPC:
Macan ICE (Audi Q5)
Cayenne ICE (Audi Q7/Q9)
Panamera ICE (Audi A7)

And on bespoke Porsche Platform:
911
Maybe an ICE 718, but the EV variant could be cancelled.

 

[jk981]

Bleak.

Although I did see one of these articles had a denial at the end of any cancellation of an electric 718... time will tell I suppose.

 

[prj]

Bleak.

Although I did see one of these articles had a denial at the end of any cancellation of an electric 718... time will tell I suppose.

Very much so.
I for one love the Taycan because it doesn't look like a body dropped on a battery skateboard, while all the PPE cars look like that. E.g. Audi A6 e-tron:

 

[TehPenguin]

Technically can drop the e-tron moniker, as going forward all Audis with odd numbers are ICE and even numbers are EV.

Slight correction: Audi dropped the odd/even numbering scheme because it was too confusing/disruptive.

So now we have an A6 and an A6 e-tron, but the A7 is still dead. And the A4 is now called the A5 but is still a sedan instead of a "sportback" (unless you're in China and get the A5L).

See, so much easier to understand and consistent with previous Audi's!

 

[jk981]

Very much so.
I for one love the Taycan because it doesn't look like a body dropped on a battery skateboard, while all the PPE cars look like that. E.g. Audi A6 e-tron:

Exactly. So many EV sedans look like jellybeans with the J1 being basically one of the only ones that looks decent, now that the Model S is dead. Everyone complains about the packaging, but that's why the car looks good.

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