2016 Porsche Panamera snapped testing by IAB readers - Spied

Will reportedly be offered in three bodystyles.

Indian Autos Blog readers, Ms. Lisa and Mr. Felix Hoch, snapped prototypes of the next generation 2016 Porsche Panamera in Europe recently. Based on the VW Group's MSB platform, the second generation of Porsche's four-door luxury sport-sedan will launch in the second half of 2016, Porsche President & CEO Matthias Müller told Indian Autos Blog.

Codenamed 'G2', the new Panamera will look more-or-less the same to the current generation model, the official said. With an evolutionary design approach, Porsche engineers are still trying to make the Panamera lighter by about 90 kg, which will no doubt aid its CO2 emissions. The Hybrid variant of the second gen Panamera will reportedly better the current model's 71 g/km emission.

Inside, Porsche designers aim to address one of the main complaints of the first gen Panamera: The plethora of buttons on the center console which at many times, requires the driver to take their eyes off the road. Better integration of buttons, and slightly better interior space are a couple of features to look forward to in the G2 Panamera.

According to some reports, the new Panamera will be diversified into three distinct bodystyles - five-door coupe, a long wheelbase version with additional rear seat space and a sporty five-door SportTurismo version which was previewed at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Also read: Porsche Cayman GT4 showcased at the Geneva Motor Show

Post its launch in Europe, the new Panamera can be expected in India sometime in 2017.