SQLGuy

Just read a short interview in the new (October 2011) Panorama. The main topic was the 991, but Muller was also talking about other models he'd like to have in Porsche's lineup. One was a "Panamera Jr." When the interviewer pressed him, asking if it would be a two-door Panamera, he said, "It should have four doors, because we have to take care of the 911."

hacker-pschorr

Let's pray it's his decision to make.

People need to remember the 928 was to take over as the flagship model. Porsche saw a future where the 911 was going to start showing it's age and needed a modern replacement. That didn't happen (we can start a new thread arguing why...).

I don't see Porsche producing a model that will directly compete with the 911. The new 991 is much more of a GT than sports car, a spiritual successor to the 928, a two door Panamera really doesn't make sense.

Yes there are some bean counters who see dollar signs simply due to people scrambling to buy the "new" Porsche. Long term, I don't see it as a good move for Porsche.

Tony

IMO Porsche NEEDS a similar platform to compete against the Astons, Jags, MB's and Ferrari's that have the front engine V8 platform. Its coming, Thats my bet...It will have a name, but not a 928 designation.

James Bailey

Having driven the GT2RS.....there is no need for a 2 door "sportscar" supercar in the Porsche line. They already have it 620HP 200 plus MPH and easy to drive......

heinrich

Exactly. The "new 928" has been around as long as the 996 and later have. The fact tha it isn't front-engined makes no difference.

EspritS4s

Agreed and the Boxster derivatives are filling the old 911 pure sports car role.

tv

Have not read the interview, so I don't know the way the conversation was going or if translation was a problem, but a guy who claims to know porsche plans says the panamera coupe will be here in 2 years. Muller also hinted at it 6 months ago in another interview.

They need a high end luxury GT, the 911 does not fit the bill. Time will tell. The mini cayenne is on its way also. VW wants them to be a volume producer.

EspritS4s

Why do they need a high end luxury GT?

jpNcos

I agree with that. I would like to see a sportier panamera though by that meaning smaller. The pana is huge!!

vanster

I think that you have to take into account that the release of the "NEW 911" has been delayed because
of an excess inventory of the current 911 so the incentive of a new 2 door would be a hard sell.
The new 911 is without doubt the best 911 to date. Anyone that took note at the Rennsport event will agree. The next car in the line up it the smaller SUV based on the Q5. Follow the money

tv

Why do they need a smaller Cayenne? It's kinda small as it is. Why did LR need an evoque?

Because they want to grab all the sales they can. Competitors have proven the luxury GT market is large and lucrative - all aston sales, maserati sales some Jag, some Fcar, a lot of AMG sales, even some lambo.

911 is still a small (interior especially) sports car with a certain buyer.

With all the cars mentioned above, why does Lotus believe there is a market for it's 5 new models? Porsche needs a new version of the 928 category, roomier, more exotic, classier, and more powerful without being some childish decal/ironing board covered eidtion that barely sells. It's for a different buyer.

EspritS4s

Porsche is looking to expand the size of it's served market in order to grow sales. Boxster and Cayman sales have fallen. The Panamera has been a huge success, so it's reasonable to expect that Porsche would leverage that to expand their high-end offerings. The mini-Cayenne and mini-Caymans offer much more potential to drive top line revenue (assuming that Porsche can come out with something compelling, profitable, and still get a premium in the segment) than an uber-luxury 2 door coupe. I'm not saying Porsche should not do one, I just wondered why you thought that they need one.

Aston sold ~ 8K cars last year. Maserati ~10K and this includes the Quattroporte which is in a totally different class. Although both are making money today, they have both struggled to make money over the years. The GT market is smaller and more crowded than you might think. That being said, I hope Porsche does come out with something in this market.

As for Lotus, they are looking for any way to expand beyond their current niche. I have no idea what that has to do with Porsche coming out with a 2 door GT though...

tv

Luxury GT market;

Ferrari 599
Ferrari 612
Ferrari California
Ferrari FF
AM DB9
AM DBS
AM V12V
Am Virage
Maserati Gran Turismo
BMW 6 series
Lotus Elise
Lotus Elite
Lotus Espirit
Lotus Eterne
Bentley Continental series
Mercedes CL 63 65
Mercedes SL series
Mercedes SLS
Lambo Aventador
New Mclaren top car


Big market ^^ lots of money and prestige and slapping a turbo on a bug doesn't cut it. Why did Ferrari introduce California and FF? Porsche has none of that market.

heinrich

Not big market. Flooded market. And VW make many of them. VW in other words already make many GT's. The days of long-distance high-speed cruises is over. These are times of fuel efficiency; utility; ubiquity and the occasional rich man's 2-seater convertible toy.

Tom in Austin

Remember, parent company's objective is volume growth... best contribution by Porsche would be a new, low-cost entry like the 914.

By sharing parts with VW or Audi they could create something with a Porsche badge on it for around 35K and push a bunch of them out the door.

And don't forget, as part of VW Porsche cannot cannibalize sister brands. So you have to take into account all the two-door front-engine models in the family and imagine how Porsche would justify a new model to compete with, say, the Audi S5.

I for one am not optimistic about Porsche's future as a 'boutique' brand in the VW family.