Ever since Mercedes took the E-Class, a mid size executive sedan that looks like an accountant; and completely transforms it into a fashion designer that knows a thing or two about accounting, it storms the automotive world with its great looks alone. Leaving not only Munich and Ingolstadt wondering what have they been doing or thinking for the past few years, but sending the likes of Wolfsburg, Zuffenhausen and even Aston Martin from Gaydon back to the drawing board.Everyone suddenly realizes niches, not only exists by themselves in the market, but could be created from computer sketches as well. Sporting a sleek coupe-like rooflines and profile, it completely transforms this segment, bringing in sporty, energetic elements and created a whole new segment.
With Mercedes all on it's own for almost 4 years, every other manufacturer now are in the midst of creating their own 4 door coupe luxury sedans. With Porsche doing serious work on the Panamera, Audi testing the A7, Volkswagen launching the Passat CC, Aston Martin on the Rapide and BMW was also reported to revive the 8 Series as a large, 4 door coupe, with design cues taken from the BMW CS Concept. Even Peugeot's new RC Hybrid Concept was a 4 door coupe sedan format.
And everyone seems to be eye-ing their version of CLS in year 2010 or 2011 for the battle of the sexy executive sedan. Here we have photos sourced from WorldCarFans of the much spied Porsche Panamera lapping the Nurburgring alongside an Aston Martin Rapide, we believed it's not a planned day-run from the two as Porsche had virtually no relations whatsoever with Aston Martin, making these set of spy shots ever more 'entertaining' and exciting.
Hit the jump to view the photos of the Rapide and Panamera battling the Nurburgring.
