Maybach

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Porsche, Luxury Porsche Panamera Convertible patent drawing - click above for high-res image gallery See, apparently we aren't crazy, though we may have been a little smidge off the mark. Back in October, we reported that Porsche had begun work on an open top version of their then new Panamera super sedan. Only we said it would be a two-door 'cause, you know, drop top and all that. Whoops! If these alleged German patent office images from Autocar are anything to go on, Porsche is going after the highly nuanced (to put it mildly) - and presumably lucrative - four-door convertible market, joining the ranks of such noted automakers as... those dudes in Miami that chop the tops off Chrysler 300Cs. Okay, fine, the Maybach 62 Landaulet is kinda like a four-door convertible (but not quite), though at $1.35 million, it actually might compete in a different segment. And yes, yes - we know - the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is technically a four-door convertible. But never mind any of that, as judging by these images, the Porsche Panamera convertible looks to be pillarless, something that the neither the $25,000 Jeep nor the mega-bucks Maybach can lay claim to. As such, the Panamera's chassis would presumably have to be beefed up in a major way to retain some semblance of stiffness and rigidity. Though maybe not quite as much as you (and we) might think. If you look closely at the patent images, you can see that, like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe, the A-pillar has been reinforced with a mini-triangle. You'll also note that the Pan's butt isn't any bigger than before, suggesting a folding cloth top as opposed to a space-intensive retractable hardtop. Back to chassis strength - thanks to modern production techniques, it's possible to substitute in thicker gauge steel that will increase stiffness without adding as much weight as traditional afterthought convertible chassis bracing. And where does this leave those of us wishing for a modern-day 928? Not in a very good place, we're afraid. These patent drawings clearly show that the new, most-likely upcoming Panamera Convertible has been engineered as a four-door from the get-go, and never a duoporte. Shame... Gallery: Porsche Panamera Convertible patent drawing [Source: Autocar]Alleged patent images for Porsche Panamera convertible turn up originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Luxury The Bufori Geneva - Click above for high-res image gallery During their press conference, Bufori founder and owner Anthony Khouri mentioned that he and his two brothers George and Gerry had so fallen in love with Geneva that they decided to name their new sedan after the fine, Swiss city. An honor for sure, though speaking honestly before they yanked the cover off, we were set to dismiss the newest Bufori as what would happen to your Morgan if you parked it inside a Krispy Kreme for the weekend. However, and maybe we were swayed by the presentation, but there's more to the Bufori Geneva than meets the eye. Under the hood you'll find the same 6.1-liter Hemi V8 found in SRT-model Chryslers, though for Geneva duty it's tuned to 430 horsepower (instead of 420 hp). If you like, Bufori will be more than happy to slap a supercharger on that puppy, bumping the output to "nearly 600 hp." The Geneva also rides on adjustable air suspension atop a four-wheel multi-link suspension system. The Geneva also has a full range of modern electronic bells and whistles including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and night vision. More importantly, the body is made out of a blend of Kevlar and carbon fiber, the first such "hybrid" body ever to cover a four-door sedan. As far as the looks go, we can state emphatically that the Geneva is the best looking Bufori ever made. You can debate the specifics of the design amongst yourselves. The big news is inside the handmade Australian luxo-barge, specifically in the backseat that you enter through suicide doors. Like other luxury rides such as the big Maybachs, there's a mini bar, a champagne fridge, integrated champagne flutes and fully adjustable rear seats. But the Geneva takes it to the next level. There's a locking cash box for all of your loose, ill-gotten gains and the Geneva's pièce de résistance, an integrated tea set featuring an instant boiling water tap. No, really. While Bufori claims they have the capacity to produce 300 Genevas per anum, they are limiting the yearly total to just 60 cars. Hey, there's no substitute for exclusivity. There's also no word on price but we'll take a guess: a lot. In case you're wondering, we won't be seeing the Bufori Geneva in the States. Instead, Bufori will focus their sales in and around Southeast Asia, the Middle East, China and India. Gallery: Geneva 2010: Bufori GenevaContinue reading Geneva 2010: Bufori Geneva is Australian for luxury, mateGeneva 2010: Bufori Geneva is Australian for luxury, mate originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments