Nicole

Guys:

Before you get too excited, keep in mind that up to this day, Porsche has not made a decision as to what the fourth model line will exactly be.

The images you see in the press are phantasies of non-Porsche designers. Porsche might monitor the reactions and factor them into the decision making process, if we are lucky.

Sure, the new model is likely to use elements of the Cayenne, including the engine. It will have to be built in the new assembly plant in Leipzig. But it won't be available before 2007, and I keep wondering where they would make the bodies. The Stuttgart body plant is running at max capacity and there is no room for expansion there. The Cayenne bodies are made by VW in - I believe - either the Czech Republic or Slovakia. Yes, there is room around the new Leipzig plant to build another facility to assemble the bodies, but would this be feasable?

In regards to the 8-cylinder 911: I bet that Excellence is wrong. This same rumor had been going around in Germany a year ago, and was later dismissed. It's not going to happen. The 911 will keep the flat six cylinder engine, even though it will either grow in displacement and output or be redesigned at some point.

I agree that the flip-up headlights are a thing of the past. Nicely executed on the 928, they were really forced upon us by US headlight regulations (remember "sealed beam"?) - if you wanted a sleek looking car, you had to have flip-ups. With today's headlight technology, designers have more freedom, and we save a lot of complicated mechanics. I won't miss them on new cars, even though I find them an important part of our beloved 928.

Normy

Of the comments I've seen here, the one that struck me the most was the paragraph by Pilotshark where he said "Porsche R&D has given up". I tend to agree wholeheartedly, in a design sense.

It is not that their new cars are ugly- they aren't. Nor is it that they do not look like Porsches- almost anyone can guess what kind of car it is without seeing the badges. The problem as I see it is that they lack originality.

-This is perhaps the main reason I bought my '85 S2. When I was a kid, my friend's father brought home a brand new '78 928. I was instantly hooked-that car looked like it had come straight out of Star Wars to me, and even then I appreciated its "different" look.

Think about it- in the early to mid 1960's, Ferrari started making their cars resemble coke bottles, or fighter jets, or even fashion models lying on their sides in profile. They "bobbed" the tails like race cars and made the nose low and angular...spawning dozens of copies around the world [think about where the designers of the '68 and later corvettes got their ideas....]. All the exotic and hardcore sports cars suddenly had to have these styling cues....

And then the 928 came along. A breath of fresh air- rounded rump, a wide "B" pillar, chunky proportions, headlights that seemed to stare at the sky, and not a crisp line in sight.

Porsche seems to me to have lost this originality. I don't think that the next "928", if it is built, should be some sort of retro-928 a la New Beetle, Mini, or Thunderbird, but if Porsche is going to do something like this then they should take the time to come up with something that not only is not a Boxster/911 clone but that is completely different from any thing else in its catagory. Otherwise they are just building expensive Nissans.

N-

pilotshark

I am relieved to learn that I am not the only one who feels this way. I would like to say that I do like the Boxster and I like the 911 as well. I do not, however, like the fact that both have the near identical front end. Just as in the 1980's and early 1990's, Porsche ran more then one line at a time. I support this. I like variety and I love the 928. Each car at that time had a different purpose.

The 924 and the 944 shared many styling similarities, but were not the same car. The 924, at the time, was the "entry level" Porsche and there was nothing wrong with that. The 944 was a "enhanced" 924 and it showed both in flared styling and performance. The 911 and all it's variants were the more "traditional" Porsche concept of a sports car and it satisfied the bulk of Porsche customers. The 928 as you all know was not only the flagship, but the intended replacement for the aging type 911 design.

I won't go into detail describing the purpose of each vehicle as I am sure most of you reading this are enthusiests and are familiar with Porsche's history and developments. It is also common knowledge that many factors contributed to the discontinuation of our beloved model. So be it. Later, the 924, 944 and eventually the successor to both of those, the 968 were discontinued. It was a beautiful era, but is is past. It is my opinion that one of the major reasons it was a beautiful era was that so much variety existed on the same showroom floor. Unless I am mistaken, the 911 & variants, the 924, 944 and the 928 all shared the same dealership floorspace for a while at the same time. Each looked and drove uniquely different. That era, unfortunately, is over forever.

Now we are in a time where the 911 is still kicking (I am glad of this, but I miss the continued development and sales of new 928s), the boxster is selling well and continues getting improvements and now a new suv. All three of which share the same front treatment. Now, it must be said that while I very much dislike ALL SUVs, I wish they had at least given it a look all its own. The Boxster was short-changed in recieving a nose of it's own and now we can see a hyper-tall 911 snout on the upcoming truck. Give me a break Porsche! Again, let me say that I love variety and I understand why this truck is being made and sold, but damn. Are we to see the same set of headlights on everything you make from here on out?

Despite this frustration, we have been blessed with the Carrera GT. It is a unique animal. It, like every model Porsche has produced, has it's own character and intended function. Fortunately it seems to have a set of headlights all it's own. Granted, they are the same enclosed beam that is on everything today, but the shape and design is unique. Someone said earlier that it looks like a McLaren. I can see a connection albeit slight. I think it looks like nothing ever made by anyone before. This is particularly true in the targa/speedster version. Don't flame me too much, these are just MY opinions(ramblings).

Jerry 87 928S4

Here is the Picture.

Jim Wilson

I agree with option #2 from pilotshark, photoshop.
There is no edge between the driving lights and the hood.

tdelarm

Headlights are a turn off for me. A no go for me based on that alone. If indeed it’s a possible concept for a new 928 series, it needs a look of individuality, which I believe the 928 has always been about. This model although sexy in many ways, reeks of Ferrari, Boxster, 911 and whatnot. I understand Porsches concept of the “frog eyes”, but I don’t believe it works on that body design. Plus, let’s make it with four seats even though we all know how often the rear seats would actually be used. A rear hatch would be nice too. If I wanted a two-seater with no hatch, I’d buy one of the zillions of 911’s produced.

And, I can't believe that Porsche would even consider anything but a 6-cyl. for the 911-series based on the bashing the 928 has received. After all these years of 911 owners wining about “true Porsches only have 4-cyl and are air cooled” they should be embarrassed, both Porsche and the 911 owners…Geez, what a bunch of hypocrites. Wonder what they are all wining about now…hahahahahahahahaha

Tim Dealarm
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