There has been no shortage of spyshots of Porsche’s new super saloon, but the latest batch give the best idea yet of what the Panamera will look like.

Comparable in size to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the car may or may not be shown at the Paris Motor Show in the autumn – but don’t expect to see it on the road until mid-2009, in time to take on Aston Martin’s Rapide and the new BMW 7 Series.

The 500bhp 4.8-litre V8 model should cost around £85,000. In 2010, a 3.6-litre V6 version is expected, priced at £55,000.

A hybrid version is also planned for 2011, capable of 30-plus mpg.