New cars: 2010 Porsche Panamera

Edmunds.com

“Porsche toyed with the idea of a four-door 911 for years,” but eventually built its first-ever four-door on a brand-new platform. Still, “the 911’s spirit is alive and kicking” in the new Panamera, “an incredible machine that raises the bar for high-performance sport sedans.” Front and back bucket seats offer “cosseting luxury.” Options include, “believe it or not, a refrigerated box” in the rear armrest.

The New York Times

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This 500-hp hatchback four-seater shows just how good a sedan can be “when cost control is not an issue.” With options, the price can quickly rise above $150,000. But undaunted buyers seeking “a sports car experience in a spacious four-door package” can choose among two V8 models and a turbocharged version that’s “fast enough to qualify as a bullet train.”

Car and Driver

Compared to other sport sedans, “the Panamera triumphs because it’s the best compromise of luxury and sport.” Though its hulky styling “failed to win us over,” the interior is gorgeous, with “a grand amount of room for full-size adults and their luggage.” Impressive handling and acceleration are aided by a seven-speed, dual-clutch automated manual shifter that “should be a benchmark for transmission makers.”