1991 Porsche 989: The True Origins of the Porsche Panamera
#BlogPost

Speaking of Porsche 4-door cars, everyone will know there’s a Porsche Panamera.
But nobody knows that Porsche have launched a sedan before the Panamera existed, but unfortunately this Porsche sedan is cancelled before it went to production.
And this is the Porsche 989.

The Beginning

Porsche’s 928 sales boom in the 80’s prompted Porsche to consider adding another large, sporty touring vehicle to the lineup. A saloon body was considered for this new car, to serve as the brand’s most luxurious and most practical model in the lineup. Engineer Dr. Ulrich Bez was put in charge of the project.
This is not Porsche’s first sedan prototype, though. In 1967, a 4-door version of Porsche’s venerable 911, is also created. Just like the 989, the quirky 911 4-door also never went into production. Also, in 1989, another 4-door prototype, named the 932, and with a Ital Design designed body also exists. Some other 4-door Porsches also existed, including the 928-based sedan.

The Design

The design, styled by Harm Lagaay, inspired some later Porsche models. The design (except the engine placement) have many similarities to the 911 sports car. Also, specific design influences to later Porsche models include the control-arm suspension and 959-esque headlamps which would later be used on the 993 and later as well as the overall design is later adapted to the 996.

The car's exterior

The car's interior

The Specs

Also specially for the 989, Bez designed a new front-engine, rear-drive platform with a wheelbase of 2,826 mm (111.3 in) and power coming from a new 80-degree, water cooled V8 engine with a power output of around 300 PS (220 kW; 300 hp).[1] Some discrepancy has arisen as to the engine displacement, which is reported as being between 3.6 and 4.2 litres.

Development Problems

After Ulrich Bez left Porsche in September 1991, the project lost momentum. The severe slump in 928 and the return of the 911 made executives re-think the viability of the idea, and low overall profits during the 1989 to 1991 model years meant the model would be far more risky for the company to build than had been anticipated during development.

So,

The Existence of the Prototype & The Future

Porsche officials initially claimed that the only prototype was destroyed. However, it actually still exist. The prototype is now shown at the Porsche museum. A rear-view photograph of the prototype (silver color, 17 inch Cup II wheels, unregistered licence plate BB-PW 989) is published in the German classic car magazine Motor Klassik. Autoweek also reported the existence of the prototype.
However, Porsche didn’t stop development of a 4-door Porsche. In 2009, about 18 years after Porsche 989 is ceased development, Porsche launched the Panamera 4-door, and it’s still a major part of Porsche’s lineup today. Some say that the Panamera is the spiritual successor of the 989.

Thanks for reading this blog post. And sorry for the English I used.
Source: I find about it on Wikipedia and some other websites.