Ultimate Factories on NatGeo
02-24-2011, 11:45 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Ultimate Factories on NatGeo
Watching the Mercedes factory build the new SLS. I keep thinking this would be our car if production were still going on today. All aluminium 550 lb chassis, aluminium V8 w/571 HP (timing CHAINS) high build quality. At $180k I don't think I will have to worry about 'adopting' one when it depreciates into orphan status in need of saving!!
02-24-2011, 11:58 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Seven speed transmission in the rear, cast aluminium torque tube w/a 10 lb CARBON FIBER drive shaft. Factory bigwig says rear transmission is for better weight distribution (what a concept!!!) Looks like big bimetallic brake discs.
02-25-2011, 12:50 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Deep in the Heart of Texas!
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
Yeah, btw, the most recent Panorama has a column in which the author claims to have been told by a Porsche exec. that a 'corporate decision' was made not to pursue a 2-door Panamera/revived 928. The exec. explained that it would be a threat to the Bentley Continental GT, and the head honchos told Porsche the market was not big enough to have a competing product.
02-25-2011, 12:58 PM
#4
Supercharged
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Back in Michigan - Full time!
Posts: 18,925
Likes: 0
Received 60 Likes
on
34 Posts
Yeah, btw, the most recent Panorama has a column in which the author claims to have been told by a Porsche exec. that a 'corporate decision' was made not to pursue a 2-door Panamera/revived 928. The exec. explained that it would be a threat to the Bentley Continental GT, and the head honchos told Porsche the market was not big enough to have a competing product.
With the income gap in the US (and around the world) widening, I think this is one of the best times to be a luxury / high-priced auto maker.
So I guess it's fair to say that VW killed the potential for a new 928. Maybe that's not such a bad thing.
02-25-2011, 02:56 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Deep in the Heart of Texas!
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
If the account is correct, it's hard to see a $190k Bentley having anything to do with a re-born 928 ... surely Porsche wasn't aiming that high in price. Unfortunately, corporate product and marketing strategies aren't always particularly logical, so it could still be true ...
Call me a pessimist but I see mostly downside for the Porsche brand identify through this new 'family' they are about to become part of.
Call me a pessimist but I see mostly downside for the Porsche brand identify through this new 'family' they are about to become part of.
02-25-2011, 11:41 PM
#6
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I think we'll see platform sharing with other VW products. VW also expects each line to be profitable, unlike Porsche where profitability is spread over the company. This may lead to loss of small run models like the CGT. There's already talk of discontinuing the Panamera & the Suv in the not too distant future. Not that they aren't profitable; they compete with other lines.
