Porsche Panamera Wins Bloomberg Car of the Year

When the Panamera came out, some people said that Porsche sold its soul. Little did they know that Porsche’s soul was long gone, ever since the Cayenne diesel went on sale throughout the world. The four-door Panamera came as a natural move for the German automaker.

Now Panamera detractors have another reason to reconsider, as the car just got Bloomberg’s Car of the Year for 2009 award. In order for a car to be taken into consideration for this award, it must be new or significantly revised for model year 2010 and be on sale by the first quarter of 2010.

Each car in the competition was examined by Jason H Harper, Bloomberg columnist. He awarded points for each of the categories: overall performance, intelligent design and smart style, desirability and build quality.

“The Porsche Panamera has broken the sports-sedan category wide open, producing a truly desirable auto that combines the best elements of a sports car and comfortable four-door," Harper said. "Fast and fun, the Panamera is a car with real appeal."

The Panamera has been on sale since October, when it joined Porsche’s line up of the Boxster, the Cayman, the Cayenne and the 911 Carrera. The car is being sold in three versions: the 400-horsepower, two-wheel drive Panamera S, the all-wheel drive Panamera 4S and the 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, all-wheel drive Panamera Turbo.

The MSRP price for the Panamera S is $89,800, while the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo retail for $93,800 and $132,600, respectively.