I don't know K... Here's the thing, the 911 has changed over the years but it has still retained the same shape. But Aston Martin is building the same car over and over again. If I can't distinguish them there's no way the general public can either.

Then again this is not a car for the general public. But Aston would do well to come up with something slightly new at least, to show they care, you know?

This is a good looking vehicle, I hope it's a success.

As to VW being a luxury marque I have to agree with bepsf: just because Joey Porsche (bing him) thinks he's cool it doesn't make him so. Same thing with the Passat thinking itself a C-class. Maybe the Passat CC... and that would still fall short.

@bepsf

Dude, if you think the tail lights on the 2 series coupe look like Hyundai's I STRONGLY suggest you don't look at the 1 series.

THAT my friend was definitely designed in Korea, the North part, very likely by Kim Jong Il in an attempt to destroy the capitalist system in the West.

This is not a program that works for the people. This is another balls up by the goverment. They're using taxpayer's money to help people buy newer cars. Where is it writte that this is something the government should be doing? Where is it mandated that the government can use our money for this?

So I'm paying off my car and I got no help from anyone, as it should be. I didn't get a newer car until I could afford one. But now there are tons of people out there just going out and buying new cars because the geniuses in Congress are using my money to make it cheaper for them. But insurance won't be cheaper, or the payments they'll still have to make to the bank, or the maintenance of a new car...

So basically all the government is doing is creating another bubble. Wasn't it the bursting of more than one artificially created bubble that got us into this mess to begin with?

@ gazzed: Porsche tried to be adventurous with the 911 996. Look how well that went, forever to be know as the *fried egg headlight Porsche*.

The 911 shape has been iconic for the last 4 decades and with minor adjustments here and there will be iconic for the next 4.

It would be absolutely horrible if Porsche because another automotive whore like BMW, Audi or MB, putting their badges on any piece of crap and calling it a real car.

Here's hoping Ferdinand Piech will have a little bit of family loyalty left to him and WILL NOT allow that to happen.

@ NC2010 That's kind of what Chris *Flame Surface* Bangle said.

There's no *training* required to distinguish a beautiful design, whether it's a car or a toaster or an airplane, from one that is just plain ugly. Aesthetically the Panamera is crap, however good it may be as a car.

Then again beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

In my line of work I deal a lot with Atlas Air. I think I'm gonna withdraw my business in protest of their bringing this abortion to the US.

The interior is *acceptable* (which is not acceptable in a $50K vehicle).

The exterior is vomit inducing and an insult to the motoring public.

These are news only government burocrats could love. And we all know the UAW and other underachievers at GM are loving it too: they will continue business as usual on taxpayer's money.

There are more than a few jokes that could be told about this situation though: *what do you call a camel? A horse built by committee*. With 5 new govt burocrats on the board this is what we can expect from the new GML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAqPMJFaEdY

I can only imagine that those people that wait in line 24 hours to buy an iPhone or 2 days to see Star Wars feel about those things like I feel about this car.

Holly crap that's a gorgeous car, menacing but in a restrained way. I wouldn't take it on the street - I'm not a show off - but to drive this thing around a track... well, I'd probably wait one day in line.