Porsche Panamera to be launched in India by 2009 end

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Global economic slowdown notwithstanding, Porsche has chalked out big plans to capture fast-growing niche car market in India. The German luxury carmaker, whih has already introduced latest range of its sports cars, including iconic ‘911’ and best-selling ‘Cayenne’ SUV, is now gearing up for the launch of its new sports coupe ‘Panamera’ next year. The Porsche will roll out its luxury sedan Panamera in India by the end of next year. According to Rod Wallace, managing director, Porsche India, "the company is very confident about Panamera in the Indian car industry and are very excited about it." This luxury sedan will make its debut in India along with its global launch, which is scheduled for late 2009.
In the word of Wallace, the company is working on creating brand awareness as well as to establish a dealership base.

Currently, Porsche has two dealers in Mumbai and Delhi, will open one more in Ludhiana in the next two weeks. Porsche also plans to set up its new dealership in the cities of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai in a span of four to five months, and in next two years it will establish its dealership in 10 to 11 cities.

Today, Porsche still fields a line-up of cars that is 75% rear-engined. Which makes the new Panamera -- a front engined, four door sports Porsche -- a bold move, despite the success of the Cayenne SUV. At 195.7 in., the Panamera is longer than a Cayenne by 6.9 inches and almost the exact same width at 76 inches to the Cayenne's 75.9. It's no SUV though, standing only 55.8 inches tall.