Bertone Karisma: A Forgotten Rear-Engine Porsche Sedan Concept - Storyboard

When you think of Porsche sedans today, the Panamera and Taycan immediately come to mind as prime examples of blending sports car DNA with practicality

However, long before these models ever hit the scene, Porsche experimented with a rear-engine sedan concept dubbed the Bertone Karisma

Designed by Luciano D’Ambrosio and unveiled at the 1994 Turin Auto Show, the Karisma was a bold four-seater sedan based on the Porsche 964 chassis

Bertone approached the Karisma differently, sticking to Porsche’s rear-engine roots and stretching the 964’s wheelbase to create a spacious cabin

Seeing the Karisma for the first time felt like stepping into an alternate universe, with its unique gullwing doors, flat rear deck, and futuristic design

Under that rear deck-lid sat a 3.6-liter flat-six engine with 250 horsepower on tap

Inside, the cabin was equally striking, featuring luxurious egg-like leather seats and a dashboard that retained Porsche’s iconic five circular gauges

Despite its innovation, the Karisma never entered production due to Porsche’s financial struggles in the '90s. The company instead focused on the 911 and models like the Boxster and Cayenne

Porsche eventually launched the Panamera in 2009, sticking with traditional front-engine layouts for its sedans

Reflecting on the Karisma, I see it as a bold, forward-thinking concept that may have paved the way for Porsche’s high-performance four-door cars today