Porsche's faster, sleeker Taycan threw shade on its Panamera brother when it first appeared, but the combustion car refuses to fade away. Instead, it is quietly thriving, and fresh spy shots show Porsche giving its big luxury sedan a midlife refresh just as sales prove buyers still want it. The current Panamera dates back to 2016, with the so-called third generation introduced in 2023 leaning heavily on the same bones.
That makes a facelift in 2027 right on schedule, and the first camouflaged prototypes are already pounding through Scandinavian winter weather. Up front, Porsche has lightly reworked the 2028MY's bumper, though the bigger visual change is in the headlights. The illuminated Porsche logo has shifted from the center of the Matrix LED units to the inner tip, giving the nose a sharper and more modern look.
A new windscreen houses updated radar hardware, borrowed straight from the Macan EV, and around the back, camouflage hides revisions to the bumper and diffuser. What makes this timing interesting is how the Panamera has flipped the script on Porsche's electric darling. The Taycan may be sleeker and quicker on paper, but it struggled in 2025, with global sales down 22 percent as enthusiasm for luxury EVs cooled.
Porsche's overall sales fell 10 percent, yet Panamera demand slipped just 6 percent. Even more telling, the Panamera sold almost 70 percent more units than the Taycan. The reason is simple: buyers love hybrids.
While Porsche hasn't confirmed powertrains for the facelift yet, we doubt things will change dramatically from today's lineup, although it looks like a hot GT3 RS-inspired variant will join the team. As a reminder, the current range starts with a 348 hp (353 PS) V6 in the $113,000 base model, climbs to a 493 hp (500 PS) V8 GTS, and leans heavily on three hybrid variants. Those hybrids span from the 463 hp (468 PS) Panamera 4 E Hybrid to the $242,500 range topper, the wild 771 hp (782 PS) Turbo S E Hybrid.
They blend performance, comfort, and just enough electrification to feel future-proof without any of the EV's charging anxiety. The Panamera may never be as rapid or elegant as the Taycan, but it's beating it where it counts, and shows no sign of letting up.
Porsche's midlife refresh strategy is a smart move given the Panamera's popularity, and the company's confidence in its hybrid powertrains will likely pay off. By focusing on what buyers love about the Panamera, Porsche can maintain its position as a leader in the luxury sedan market.
