Porsche boss publicly admits luxury liftback not a looker
The global boss of Porsche Matthias Mueller has admitted the exterior and interior styling of the second generation Panamera luxury car needs to improve compared to the current car.

And despite being clearly surprised by his CEO's frank public admission at the Paris motor show last week, Porsche design chief Michael Mauer says the 2016 Panamera will be a better looker – although still disliked by some people.

You can judge yourself by taking a look at some spy shots we published recently.

The original Panamera luxury liftback was Mauer's first project when he took over Porsche design in 2004. Launched in 2009, its attempt to marry some elements of the iconic 911 sports car's look with a low, wide and long five-door body has drawn plenty of criticism.

Including now, from the boss of the company.

"There have been some small mistakes and we will do it better," Mueller promised when asked what we could expect from the next Panamera.

"For example the design could be better."

Asked if he was referring to exterior styling, he said "as well as the interior".

However, Mueller also said he expected the new car to be "as successful as the first generation", a reference to the more than 100,000 examples sold.

That sales performance was something Mauer used to defend the looks of the current Panamera.

"From what I hear from our sales and marketing guys, the Panamera is pretty successful. For a company and for a brand that entered this segment for the first time where you have S-class, Audis, BMWs, really well established brands... I think we have enormous success with the car.

"And I believe as well since the design and the package of the car some people don't like it, but people who do like it, they like it really."

Mauer said he hoped more people would like the Panamera's styling in the future, but also wanted it to continue to divide opinion.

"I am sure a lot of people won't like the design of the next generation. And that's fine by me. I would prefer to have cars and products that polarise rather than being just okay. I think that's the worst thing for a product. And the new Panamera I am sure there will still be people that don't like it.

"But we have addressed certain things and I think it is more attractive, but if as a designer I was to tell you the successor generation doesn't look as good as the old one then most likely I should look for another job."

While refusing to speak in detail, Mauer did reveal the next Panamera would have an even "faster" – or more coupe-like – roofline than its predecessor. He said that was essential to the styling theme of the car being retained.

"You have to recognise it is the new one, but as well recognise that it is the successor," he explained. "So the car will look different, it will look better, but you will immediately see that it is the Panamera."

The next generation will ride on all-new architecture dubbed MSB that will help shear weight from the porky Panamera, and also be shared with the next-gen Bentley Continental.

However, as we have reported previously, the philosophy of the architecture is similar to the current car, which means the basic footprint and interior roominess of the four-seater will not be changed.

"I don't think we have more space than today," said Mauer. "We are basically at the same space, maybe some millimetre here and there are maybe more ... For me dimension wise, proportion wise, it is the same car. But it will be a beautiful car."

The look of the next Panamera was hinted at in the Sport Turismo concept revealed at the Paris show in 2012. But Mauer said that bodystyle had not been signed off for production.

"As you know we as designers propose a lot of things and hope that one day it makes it to the road," Mauer said. "In that case no decision has been made so far. But I still keep my fingers crossed because I love that car."