CAR makers are sometimes accused of going a bit mad with their ever-expanding ranges and it's the Germans who tend to be in the firing line more than most.
Audi, Mercedes and BMW seem intent on outdoing each other when it comes to boasting the biggest line-up.
Porsche is following suit, albeit in a more measured way, but going back a few decades who would have guessed a company that basically made one car would have the breadth of vehicles it has today.
The latest addition to the line-up is the Panamera - the company's first four-seater saloon.
To some eyes it might look a little like a stretch limo version of a 911 and such a description would not be that wide of the mark.
There's certainly some common design DNA in there and Porsche bosses readily admit they wanted the Panamera to have something of the 911 about it.
Of course the problem with this is that the 911 is one of those genuinely iconic car profiles, so seeing something that looks a little like it but is also rather drastically different can be unsettling at first.
While the Panamera is not pretty in the conventional sense it is certainly eye-catching and the more I see of it the more I like it.
When Porsche say it can transport four people in comfort they certainly aren't joking and the rear seats have the kind of legroom you'd expect in a Mercedes S-Class. Those rear seats are as well crafted and supportive as the front seats too - no compromising just because you're travelling in the rear.
Whether company directors fancy being driven around in one is anyone's guess but a little bird tells me Sir Elton John was so impressed he ordered one to be chauffeured around in - the top of the range Turbo version of course.
On the inside the Panamera matches a genuine Porsche sportscar feel with a level of opulence that is impressive and I love the way the instrumentation stretches along the centre console. As a driver you soon get very used to where everything is and it seems to have been designed with intuition and ease of use in mind.
This car was the Panamera S, currently the base model in a line-up that also includes the 4S and Turbo.
It might be the entry level version but there's nothing basic about it in terms of comfort and performance.
Power comes from a 4.8-litre V8 engine that is used across the range, with power ranging from 400-500bhp.
As one would expect from Porsche, it's a great engine and feels suitably spirited - no question of being short-changed in an entry level version - though delivering 400bhp it's certainly not going to be lacking.
Talking of going mad it would be easy to specify a list of options on a Panamera that could add a third of the cost of the car itself on top of the £73,827 starting price but some are well worth considering.
The PDK seven speed double clutch automatic transmission (£2,339) is a case in point. Once upon a time buying an automatic Porsche would have been seen as a cop-out but this advanced system similar to that used across the Volkswagen/Audi range means enhanced performance and better fuel economy.
The PDK system means it also has stop-start technology to make it even greener still, though how ‘green' a 4.8-litre petrol engine can be is probably a matter for debate.
If you opt for PDK then it's worth going the extra mile and having the Sport Chrono Package Plus (£729).
You can choose the level of sportiness, from standard, to sport and sport plus modes. If you're a boys' toys sort of person you'll like the launch control feature which enables the fastest possible take-off from a standing start.
The Panamera is a comfortable cruiser with sublime ride quality, something which is definitely boosted by the optional adaptive air suspension (£729) which was fitted to my test car.
Given its weight and bulk and the fact its engine is in the front, unlike a 911, the Panamera handles fabulously.
It feels incredibly balanced and stable and whatever mode you're in it offers a truly rewarding drive. Everything is firmed up and throttle response sharpened with the sport plus mode engaged offering the opportunity to explore both its agility and sure-footedness to the full.
As well as the looks, it also has something of the spirit of the 911 as a driver's car, even if it isn't quite as agile.
But it's certainly a fully-fledged Porsche and a car which will appeal equally to brand enthusiasts and those who might never have contemplated buying one before.