September 18: What took so long?

Recognize this very well known sports car? Who could miss that iconic shape? The one that hasn't changed much, but has changed drastically over the past fifty plus years (think about that for a minute). Of course, this is the Porsche 911. If you are wondering why it looks a little different, but just can't put your finger on it, then count the doors.

This was a California custom job, but Porsche also fiddled around themselves with this idea a few years later and now have it on display in their museum........

When in 2009 they finally decided to take the leap into full production, the Panamera sprung forth like an ill formed child. Remember that first one?

Who could forget it? Ugly as sin, with that strange, bulbous rear end, but sold like wildfire because among other things it was (wait for it).......a Porsche. Try to go out to dinner with a few friends in a 911 coupe. It ain't happening, folks. Hence a ready market for a "family" 911.

Porsche got it right with the the next and current generation in both sedan and station wagon guise, a beauty from any angle......

The formula? Take a popular sportscar and add a couple of doors. Make it in a variety of models and watch the line up form. A solid sales success.

Question........why has no one else jumped in this arena? Surely there must be another manufacturer who sees this niche as one that should be filled to compete with Porsche AG. Use this picture as a hint........

If you guessed Mercedes, then you've probably been sneaking a peak at the various auto sites on the web. Finally the Panamera will have competition. All this preamble leads up to the unveiling of Mercedes latest wild child, the AMG GT four door Coupe (yes, that's actually its name).......

Not quite as fluid of line as the gorgeous Porsche, but more of a ballsy model from the brain trust at AMG. And who wouldn't want a four door with the AMG exhaust note, which sounds like a race car, no matter what the model? Sign me up, please, but only if I can't have the Panamera wagon. Maybe someone could marry the two?

By the looks of this instrument panel, maybe only NASA trained pilots should get behind the wheel?

Price? Ah, the old caveat to any new car purchase. At this point it's an educated guess, but from everything floating around the net, it looks like it will start in the $145,000 Cdn range for a "base" model, whatever the heck "base" means in a car like this.

Our world is about choices, so aren't we happy. Of course, we can't afford any of these cars, but it makes for much more varied dreams. There is one more obvious question, who will be next to throw their four door hat into the ring?

Until next time.......