A FOUR-DOOR, four-seater Porsche sportscar – not many people expected such a new model would ever see the light of day.

But in 2009 it will happen as Porsche releases the first official photos of the Panamera which will be added to its line-up late next summer.

Conceived and designed as a four-door grand touring sports car, it makers say the Panamera combines numerous aspects of typical Porsche style: sporting driving dynamics, a generous and versatile interior, and the supreme driving comfort of a Gran Turismo.

The sleek GT silhouette is created by an overall length of 4970 mm (195.7 in) and short, sporting overhangs front and rear.

In its styling and details, the Panamera follows the design philosophy refined over decades on the 911 and successfully implemented on the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne.

Panamera comes with highly individual, strongly contoured air intakes instead of a conventional radiator grille, striking wheel arches and a long, sleek bonnet which give it the typical 911 ‘landscape’ at the front.

The muscular shoulders over the rear wheels, the dynamic sweep of the coupe-like roof-line, and the visible tailpipes again signpost the DNA of a Porsche.

The luggage compartment (accessed through a coupe tailgate) will take four passenger baggage while the folding rear seat backrests allow users to adjust the luggage space individually to their personal requirements.

Porsche has developed both six and eight cylinders engines for the car with power ranging from 300 to 500bhp.

Some of the engines use turbocharger technology, Direct Fuel Injection making them both fuel-efficient and powerful all in one.

In addition to featuring a sports-oriented rear-wheel drive chassis, the top version of the Panamera will come with a sophisticated all-wheel drive arrangement.

As a further highlight, Porsche is preparing a particularly fuel-efficient version of the Panamera with hybrid drive.

Further details on the engines, transmissions, performance, prices and equipment will be disclosed in the spring 2009.