Tom in Austin

Interesting story about Porsche in today's WSJ ... he mentions plans for the new sports car to slot in below the Boxster in price (and spec) ... how this will play out? My guess ...

- part or all of production farmed out to a non-Porsche factory - Stuttgart and Liepzig will be consumed with growth in current (higher-price) models
- uses a warmed-over corporate engine - probably four cylinders - from VW or Audi with a "Porsche" logo on the engine cover and maybe 10% more HP
- uses other major components from parent/sister companies ... suspension, brakes, etc. Premium components like Brembo brakes will not be offered on the base model (does the $30K buyer know what Brembos are?)
- leather probably an option, or limited to 'S' or premium model

Would be sad to see the Porsche brand cheapened this way, but VW has set out dramatic volume growth objectives, and leveraging the Porsche name for volume is low-hanging fruit ...

SeanR

Hell, they did that with the 924 and 944. It worked for them then.

Dennis Wilson

Sounds like the 924. 944 and 968 genre. The diehards didn't like them either, but it made good economic sense for Porsche.

Dennis

Landseer

Did he say anything about raising the price of the cam gears?

BPG_Austin

Porsche does have history, from the Beginning, doing this. Think Beetle. 914, 924, V6 Cayenne, 912E.. Interesting discussion Tom.

hacker-pschorr

Some of the greatest Porsche's came from an era that sounds exactly like this proposal.

VW / Porsche / Audi should be one big happy family sharing everything they can.
Long gone are the days of the VW Fox and Audi Quantum. Audi has racked up a very impressive racing history and performance reputation.

I love the idea of an entry level, rear engine Porsche that shares a platform with the new VW Beetle.

BPG_Austin

hacker, isn't the Audi TT an awd turbo Beetle?

Randy V

Did he mention the 928?

well then...GTFO

Tom in Austin

Gonna hang on my "real" handmade-in-Stuttgart Porsche !

hacker-pschorr

Same platform. I wish they would have released a 225hp Quattro Beetle. Or any VW with Quattro instead of 4-motion.

I hope not.

Going forward lets leave the front engine V8 GT's to Audi

kccampro

I immediately think 914. Fine by me.

Herman K

whe wills double evarythang...

"I don't know nothing" - Schultz

James Bailey

They could build it in the VW plant in Mexico.......by pass all those expensive German unionized workers.

RyanPerrella

THINK 356!

mid engined 4 cylinder boxer 4, less than 2600 lbs, 2 seater. The number 356 comes up at the dealership, but with that car being rear engined, i suppose a 914 would be a better comparison to a previous platform.

hacker-pschorr

http://www.leftlanenews.com/more-on-...e-revival.html