Report: Porsche 928 successor under development
Porsche is indeed developing a successor to the 928 coupe alongside its four-door Panamera, according to a new report. Germany's
Auto Zeitung says development is underway on the new grand tourer, which should arrive not long after its four-door sibling.
The Panamera, a coupe-like sedan reminiscent of the Mercedes CLS-Class or
Aston Martin Rapide, is expected to launch in 2008 as a 2009 model. It will feature a front-engine layout with V8 power.
The original 928 — built between 1977 and 1995 — featured a similar setup to the Panamera, with a large V8 in front of the driver and power to the rear wheels. Building a two-door version of the Panamera as a replacement to the 928 seems logical, then.
While there is still no concrete evidence of 928 prototypes, several months ago spies at Porsche's test center in Germany reported seeing a prototype vehicle wearing a 1995 Porsche 928 body, but with heavy modification and a pile of measurement equipment inside. The car appeared to be a testbed for a new platform, with a wider stance than the old 928.
Of course, this isn't the first time we've heard rumors of a new 928 — and that might be a good sign. In early 2006,
Road and Track said Porsche planned to revive the 928 with a 2010 model based on the Panamera. 18 months later, the rumors continue to circulate, with no denial from Porsche officials.
Click here for
Auto Zeitung's latest illustration of the next 928.
