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With China being a fast growing market Porsche decided to have the first public appearance of the Porsche Panamera in Shanghai. However the launch was much more complicated than it might have looked.

They choose the Shanghai World Finance Centre in Pudong which at nearly 500 metres high is one of the world’s tallest buildings, so how exactly do you get a car all the way up to the 94th floor for the launch?

Other carmakers have faced tough tasks, but the luxury Porsche faced some very special preparation and organisation from a combined team of German and Chinese experts. The key was getting the $270,000 Panamera S to fit into the freight elevator.

By draining all the fluids out of the car and tilting it up at one end the Panamera slid into the lift with just millimetres to spare. But it still took a specially designed pallet which allowed the car to be swung 90-degrees and secured safely for its 500 metre ride up to the 94th floor.

At any other time debuting the car at Shanghai’s World Finance Centre, known as the bottle opener because of the big square hole in the middle of it on the top of the building, would have been quite a coup for the moneyed folk of China. But, even during the global financial crisis, Porsche laid on a slick production with buckets of champagne flowing and plenty of nibbles to keep the assembled media and prospective buyers well fed.

Porsche chose China to launch the Panamera because it is one of the most vigorous growth markets for the brand. Its plan is to sell about 20,000 Panameras a year with its main markets being North America, Europe, Russia . . . and China.