Porsche is developing a successor to the 928 coupe alongside its four-door Panamera, according to a new report. Germany’s Auto Zeitung says development is underway on the new grand tourer, which should arrive not long after its four-door sibling.

The Panamera, a coupe-like sedan reminiscent of the Mercedes CLS-Class or Aston Martin Rapide, is expected to launch in 2008 as a 2009 model. It will feature a front-engine layout with V8 power.

The original Porsche 928 — built between 1977 and 1995 — featured a similar setup to the Panamera, with a large V8 in front of the driver and power to the rear wheels. Building a two-door version of the Panamera as a replacement to the 928 seems logical, then.

While there is still no concrete evidence of 928 prototypes, several months ago spies at Porsche’s test center in Germany reported seeing a prototype vehicle wearing a 1995 Porsche 928 body, but with heavy modification and a pile of measurement equipment inside. The car appeared to be a testbed for a new platform, with a wider stance than the old 928.

In early 2006, Road and Track said Porsche planned to revive the 928 with a 2010 model based on the Panamera. 18 months later, the rumors continue to circulate, with no denial from Porsche officials.

[Source: LeftLaneNews.com, Autozeitung.de]