Porsche Debuts 2017 Panamera Sports Car With CarPlay Support

It looks a lot better that the last-gen Panamera.

Yep, but so does the sole of my shoe.

It looks a lot better that the last-gen Panamera.

Panamera sales were down 27% Y/Y last year. Will this refresh save it or are we past peak Panamera?

Panamera has been and always will be niche in Porsche's stable. Considering Porsche itself is niche in the car industry, the Panamera never really had a "peak". People, specifically and especially Americans, are buying CUV/SUV's and trucks. As long as gas remains depressed that won't change. Cayennes and Macans are more important to Porsche.

I have said for the last 10+ years that my next car will be a porsche boxster. And yet I still have no car whatsoever. But this panamera -- no way. Also, I have yet to read any review that suggest that having CarPlay adds any value. When I rent cars, I connect my iphone through the in-car bluetooth and find some the implementations to be very confusing (Nissan seemed very odd) and some not so bad. If Apple makes this more seamless then that alone would make it worthwhile to me (if I were to ever by a car of course).

The Cayman/Boxster is the best value for performance you can get in a Porsche. Especially if you get pre-owned. Personally, I'd never buy new 'cause the idea of eating the first 3 years of depreciation makes me physically ill.

Agreed on CP/AA. It's just a way for automakers to get you to tick that add-on box, imo of course.

Almost the same story for me... said I'd get a 911 in retirement, I'm still 20 years from there, but may pick up a Cayman when I give my car to my daughter in two/three years... but only if it has CarPlay.

Not digging the Panamera.

There's some great deals on pre-owned Caymans. Low mileage models can be found for high $20's. Decent 911's can be found for mid $40's. Account for maintenance and up keep and you should be smiling.

*Insert transformers sound*

It should debut with a set of iGlasses to stop it being so ugly. CarPlay has to be useful though even if waaaaaaaaaaay down my list of priorities for purchasing a car.

It should debut with a set of iGlasses to stop it being so ugly. CarPlay has to be useful though even if waaaaaaaaaaay down my list of priorities for purchasing a car.

Media system obviously not the most important thing but it turns out to be a big factor in your daily commute experience. I just got a new BMW 228i and their iDrive system has me wanting to (remotely) drive it off a cliff. Kludgy, hierarchical, counterintuitive, dysfunctional mess. Worse than my 8-year-old Audi's MMI, and that was with hacked Bluetooth audio. Glad the Bavarians are adopting CarPlay now but sorry I missed it.

Obviously no one will buy a $100K+ Porsche for CarPlay (you can get a Honda for that) but it's a good system and luxury car makers are realizing it could be a distinguishing factor once the performance and reliability boxes are checked.