There is a single method to acquire a new manual Porsche Panamera.

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      Have you been imagining a bespoke Porsche that isn’t part of the current lineup? I've got some news for you. With the right financial backing and a little patience, the team in Stuttgart can help realize almost any dream, even something as unconventional as a Porsche Panamera with a manual transmission.

      During Monterey Car Week, The Drive’s Kyle Cheromcha spoke with Alexander Fabig from Porsche’s Sonderwunsch program, where the automaker unveiled its latest custom model, the Flachbau RS or 911 Slantnose. This unique vehicle was commissioned by a secretive European client who invested millions and awaited three years for this one-of-a-kind creation.

      Fabig also touched on various previous, current, and future projects from the special-request team. Most importantly, he elaborated on how far Porsche is willing to go to satisfy its most discerning customers, along with any constraints that might cause them to decline a request. In summary, Porsche is very accommodating, with rejections primarily arising from regulatory or safety concerns.

      The Drive: In the Slantnose, you maintained the powertrain at the customer's request. Are wild engine or transmission swaps possibilities if a client requests them?

      Alexander Fabig: Absolutely. Especially when it involves celebrating the manual driving experience. We have projects in progress where we are exploring these options. Typically, however, most customers are not focused solely on [pure] horsepower.

      So, if a customer requested a manual Panamera, that could be a possibility for you?

      Yes, yes, definitely. That’s a great example; I’ll use that going forward when people inquire about the program.

      There was mention a few years back of Porsche developing a Panamera convertible. What happened to that?

      I previously cited it as an example to illustrate the limits of what we could or couldn’t do. For a while, I mentioned we could build a Panamera Cabrio. If there was a request for it, we would pursue it, but it’s no longer an active project.

      When considering Sonderwunsch, it revolves around being part of Porsche and having a role in creating your own car. Thus, the body style and design aspects are far more significant to the customer than just the raw horsepower. Customers can request an increase of, say, 110 horsepower, and while we strive to accommodate that, it lacks the creative input from them. However, conversations about the interior, how the car is presented—that’s where customers can truly express their creativity.

      Regulatory constraints are always a factor, and it also depends on the customer’s desire for a road-legal vehicle. We do work on projects that may not ultimately be street legal, but that is determined by the customer’s preferences. If they’re content having it for private use, a license plate may not be necessary.

      Panamera GTS interior. Porsche

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