Spied! Next-Gen Porsche Panamera Interior Loses its Sea of Buttons

There’s some good news for anyone who is overwhelmed by the amount of buttons found in the interior of the current-generation Porsche Panamera. A spy photographer managed to snap interior photos of a next-generation Panamera prototype and it looks like Porsche is drastically reducing the amount of buttons used for the climate control and infotainment functions in favor of capacitive, touch-sensitive controls.

We’ll have to reserve judgment on whether or not the new layout is easier to use until we get to experience it first-hand. That said, the overall design does look cleaner and more modern with a few physical toggle switches and knobs used for temperature adjustments and audio volume. The infotainment screen appears to be much larger, and will likely trickle down to future models.

Porsche’s traditional gauges remain, with a large tachometer still front and center in the instrument cluster. The steering wheel looks similar to that of the Porsche 918 Spyder with a knob that likely adjusts the sedan’s driving modes.

The prototype’s exterior is still heavily camouflaged, but the overall shape doesn’t appear to be drastically changed from the current model.

As previously reported, the next-gen Panamera will ride on Volkswagen Group’s MSB platform. Engine choices should include a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, along with at least one hybrid powertrain. A diesel option may be out of the picture, at least until the company finds a solution to its diesel emissions woes. Porsche will likely show off the new Panamera later this year, possibly at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in October. Production should start in early 2017.

Photo Source: Brian Williams Photography

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