Porsche Panamera to break cover in China

Visitors to the Chinese Motor Show in Shanghai from April 20-29 will be the first to glimpse the production version of the four-door Porsche Panorama, the German sports carmaker's first luxury saloon.

The new car, which is due to go on sale in early autumn 2009, is a further attempt by the Stuttgart manufacturer to break the mould after the success of its Cayenne sports utility. The marque is known best for the iconic rear-engined 911 sportster.

A range of V6 and V8 engines is likely to be offered for the Panamera with power outputs from 300 to 500 horsepower. The model will debut in normally-aspirated and turbocharged V8 formats using either a six-speed gearbox or a twin-clutch, seven-speed version.

Four-wheel drive is reserved for the top-of-the-range bi-turbo model.

There is no word from Porsche on a production date for the petrol-electric hybrid version of the Panamara announced at Germany's IAA car show in 2007. The model saves fuel by coupling the V6 engine with a powerful electric motor for urban driving.