See, I really like the Panamera and think it looks a lot better than it has any right to. I wouldn't buy one myself even if funds allowed, but I don't think it's as hideous as some of the guess-art looked.
I have to disagree with you there. Almost every car manufacturer in the world has gone through some pretty severe brand changes in the last decade or so, and they've had to as the competition has changed. Ford now produce very good cars as they've got to compete with BMW, and Vauxhall are just about turning the same way. Toyota = boring and safe, and so on and so forth. Porsche needed to add the Cayenne just to make enough money to survive, as 911 and Boxster sales weren't doing it for them. It all very well and good to be able to say "Oh, we're a sports car company and that's all we'll ever do" but if it's not paying the bills...
No-one mocked Aston when the Rapide was shown. Same principle in essence. Okay, so the Rapide is somewhat better looking than the Panamera, but the needs are the same.