2017 Porsche Panamera set for Paris debut and Shooting Brake spin-off

The slowest-selling model from fast-car maker Porsche, the Porsche Panamera, will appear in second-generation guise at September’s 2016 Paris motor show – with a long-rumoured Shooting Brake spin-off variant set to join it in 2017.

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Company insiders have confirmed the news to industry journal Automotive News Europe, while also revealing that prototypes of the wagon-style Shooting Brake were currently undergoing testing.

Porsche first teased the possibility of a second Panamera variant with the Sport Turismo concept study (pictured) in 2012 – a design that was widely considered a more elegant-looking vehicle than the sedan version.

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The next Panamera will sit on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Standard Platform that is focused on front engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles and will also underpin models from other sister brands, such as the Bentley Continental.

A greater use of aluminium will reduce the new Panamera’s weight, and help improve fuel economy for the range of V6 and V8 petrol and diesel engines. A hybrid model will again feature in the mix, replacing the current E-Hybrid that uses just 3.1 litres of fuel per 100km.

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The Porsche Panamera was first launched in 2009 to give the manufacturer of the world-famous 911 sports car a four-door rival to luxury four-doors including the Maserati Quattroporte and Jaguar XJ.

Porsche Australia sold 56 Panameras in 2015, making it the lowest-selling model in the brand’s local line-up. That number compares favourably with some rivals, though, including the aforementioned Quattroporte (59) and Aston Martin Rapide (16).