Skip to main content

Does the world need another Porsche Panamera? Infiniti sure seems to think so

It’s always good to aim high.

The Porsche Panamera offers a combination of performance, luxury, and utility that few cars can match – even if it looks like a science experiment gone wrong. Now, Infiniti is thinking about making one of its own.

Recommended Videos

Nissan executive vice president Andy Palmer told Automotive News that Infiniti wants a Panamera-like four-door to be its future flagship.

While other luxury brands have more traditional full-size sedans at the tops of their lineups, Palmer believes a sporty, coupe-like car would give Infiniti an alternative that is “appealing and different.”

Building a different kind of flagship would also allow Infiniti to avoid competing against Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on their home turf. From the A8 to the S-Class, no one does a big sedan quite like the Germans. That’s why Acura and Cadillac don’t even bother with flagship sedans.

Infiniti has already laid the groundwork for a Panamera rival.

The Essence concept (pictured above), unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, features a slick fastback shape that could potentially be adapted for a four-door model. Unlike the Panamera, a production Essence would be a car people would actually want to look at.

 That may be the only area where the Infiniti bests the Porsche, though. Infiniti has always fancied itself the sportiest of the Japanese luxury brands, and it has the engineering of resources of Nissan at its disposal, but can it really compete with Porsche when it comes to performance?

The Essence concept may have been penned by Nissan GT-R designer Shiro Nakamura, but since its debut Infiniti’s greatest technical advancement has been the Q50’s robotic steer-by-wire system. That’s the kind of thing that gives car enthusiasts dystopian nightmares, not joy.

Whether Infiniti is capable of building a viable Porsche rival or not, some kind of flagship is definitely in the cards.

Last month, Palmer said Infiniti needed bigger models in its lineup to create prestige. He mentioned a four-door coupe as a possibility, although didn’t specifically proclaim it a Panamera rival.

An expensive model casting a halo effect over the rest of the lineup couldn’t hurt, but it will have to be more than a pretty face to accomplish Palmer’s goal.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more
Apple CarPlay Ultra looks stunning in Aston Martin supercar debut
Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of the Cupertino, California-based firm's smartphone projection system for your car, and it's available in new vehicles in the US and Canada.

When we say "new cars", your options are very much limited to one brand... Aston Martin. So you'll need deep pockets if you want to experience CarPlay Ultra for yourself.

Read more
Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics
archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

Read more