FOR the past four years Porsche enthusiasts have been waiting patiently for the launch of the Panamera, the German luxury sports car maker's entry into the four-door grand touring sector.
Spy shots and snippets of information, have been around for ages, but now the classy Panamera is ready for its worldwide launch on September 12.
The four-door, four-seat executive hatchback will enter the UK market at a time when cars with a starting price of over £70,000 will be considered an even bigger luxury than normal.
But Porsche is confident that its move into the grand tourer market will succeed, even when it is up against the likes of the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG, Jaguar XFR, Maserati Quattroporte and other high performance saloons.
Some Porsche enthusiasts may consider this move a step too far, especially after the relatively recent introduction of the Cayenne SUV and diesel engines for the Porsche Cayman, but they will have to accept the fact that Porsche feels it must expand its model range to attract new customers.
Porsche designers must have had a tough job trying to keep the traditional lines of the Porsche marquee obvious with the Panamera, but I think they succeeded.
From the front the Panamera displays much of the styling of the iconic 911 with powerfully curved front wings with headlights in their characteristic shape and bulging front wheel arches.
The Panamera is wide and low to the ground and has a strong sporting stance and an adaptive automatic rear spoiler which comes into operation at over 56mph completes the impression of surging power.
And this new Porsche certainly has the power to match its looks. The Panamera S and 4S have been kitted out with 4.8-litre V8s producing 400bhp, enough to give the luxury saloon a top speed of 175mph and 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and five seconds respectively.
The mind-blowing twin-turbo version has a massive 500bhp under the bonnet, firing it to a claimed 188 mph top speed and just 4.2 seconds from rest to 62mph.
Combined fuel consumption is claimed at around 26mpg for the S and 4S, with the Turbo at 23mpg.
The urge to floor this new saloon will be too much for most owners, so don't expect to get anywhere near these figures.
When it comes to stopping, the Panamera has fantastic brakes. The Turbo's giant brake discs can bring the sleek Porsche to a standstill from 188mph in just seven seconds.
With these performance figures in mind it might seem strange that Porsche has introduced a stop-start system to the Panamera. This cuts in and out when the car is at rest, reducing damaging emissions. I can't see much point in this in a motor which is really meant for high-speed, long distance motoring.
At more than 16ft long and 6ft 4in wide, you would think the Panamera would be a bit of a handful when it comes to cornering on tight, fast bends but when I tested the new Porsche on twisty mountain roads in Bavaria I was impressed with its agility.
In no way does it handle like a Porsche sport car, but considering its size the Panamera is easy to handle.
The Panamera's seven-speed automatic gearbox, which can be operated manually and with paddles, is a slick and seamless piece of kit.
The Panamera comes into is own on the motorway and main highways where it cruises along, eating up the miles, with a smoothness and solidity which would leave you relaxed after a long journey. Wind noise does increase when over the 100mph mark - but that shouldn't concern anyone driving in the UK!
The Panamera offers luxury driving and an interior to match. The fit and finish, layout of controls, seating and space are first class. This is a genuine four-seater, not a 2+2. The rear seating arrangement offers anyone, even six-footers, plenty of head and leg room.
Boot space is excellent. With both rear seat rests tilted forward you are left with 44.2 cubic feet, enough for a reasonable amount of luggage.
Standard equipment on all models includes full leather interior, Porsche active suspension management, Bi-Xenon headlights, rear park assist, tyre pressure monitoring, touch-screen satellite navigation and audio controls, cruise control and Bluetooth module and heated rear seats.
Porsche says Panamera sales in a full year will be around 20,000 worldwide with most customers opting for the four-wheel drive 4S and Turbo.
Future development of the range is expected to include a diesel version and a V6 petrol.
Prices are: Panamera S £72,266; 4S £77,269 and Turbo £95,298.
Having seen it in the flesh and had the privilege of a drive I am pretty impressed.