unotaz

With the way things are going for Porsche, I don't think they will need a VIP program with the 960 comes out. Remember, the VIP program (only in the US) was created due to the sluggish sales of the 918 Spyder here in the US market. At one point, Porsche was struggling with the 918 program and needed to create an incentive system for potential customers.

Just in time

You are right. That's why I posit that maybe they created a winning program by accident. While they had to sweeten the 918 sales, that will most likely not have to do so so with the 960. Now PAG having seen huge profits in the secondary market why not bring some of that into their own pockets?

ipse dixit

Well, by all accounts, we're at least some 10 years away from a 960.

Who knows what the Porsche brand will be like by then in terms of consumer demand and perception.

unotaz

Very true. 20 years ago, Porsche's future was in serious doubt by everyone.

Just in time

Maybe the 960 will show up when the 918 deal ends. Who knows! Maybe it will be great timing for PAG.

Whoopsy

The Audi R8 was the reason why there is no 960 and that the program is on back burner.

It was shelved when Piech was still in power, he doesn't want a car from Porsche that will threatened his baby Audi the brand's product.

It got back on track but Audi was readying the 2nd gen R8 and so it was shelved again. Porsche is in charged of the sports car platform, the R8/Huracan right now is on a different platform. IF Porsche introduced the 960 now, the R8 and Huracan will instantly become obsolete.

960 might come along side the next gen Huracan, VAG still need to sort out it's product mix as there is no where to slot in the 960 without disrupting other in-house brands. R8 might become the casualty if the 960 appears. It will be either or, both can't exist together.

The 911 already span a great range of pricing, if one goes above say the incoming GT2RS, one is stepping into Huracan territory. The R8 is just the oddball car that doesn't fit into the VAG's pricing scheme. But it sure will steal sales from the 960 if they are on the same platform and the Audi is tons cheaper. If the 960 is priced low enough then it will steal sales from the top range 911s.

fxz

^you mean like Cayenne steals sales from VW Toureg or Audi Q7?
Or Macan from Audi Q5?

Or Audi A3 from VW Golf from Seat Leon?

Long list

They call it same platform but different
brand image charged price

Smthing that could be a cancer for Porsche GT afficionados
but should change thanks to diesel gate

MerlinsGarage

If it's just the "pure driver's car" you seek (not the prospect of future capital gains on the R) you can certainly upbuild/retrofit a 991 to achieve the same performance as an R model. For a price much less than the just the ADM.

MerlinsGarage

..............keep an eye out for a front collision totaled RS. Not sure Porsche will sell a crate RS engine.

NateOZ

Don't forget the forthcoming Audi R6 which will be on the 718 platform.

I think they pulled the 960 on the fear that they will sit on showroom floors and not have a motorsports program yet more than anything else.

I would go a Macca or Ferrari before a 960 simply on the basis that they're being raced/developed. The 9A1 experience is enough for me to not spend $300k on an underdeveloped Porsche.

Whoopsy

Man you really are clueless about cars.

Think A8/Phaeton. Which car is the one stuck in showroom and basically got killed off?

Cayenne and Toureg have different price segments, and the Q7 has a 3rd row, all have a different engine selections, people knows if they want performance they buy the Porsche version, practicality they buy the VW, wanted more space then go for the Q7.

R8/960/Huracan is not that simple, all will be a 2 seater, and R8 already has a great V10, and it's cheap, what engine can Porsche put into the 960 in order to outshine the Audi V10? None. There lies the dilemma. Huracan also capped the top end of that product line, with R8 and Huracan so close together, there is simply no room for the 960. On the other hand, if VAG neutered the R8 the next cycle, as in put in a V6 or something, then it will make room for the 960. But Audi will not like it.

shewu

Supposedly a quad-turbocharged flat 8. All rumour, of course, and I would be highly surprised if upper management signed that off.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/ferra...econds-318597/

The proposed 2.5s 0-60 would match that of the Huracan, though.

NateOZ

Twin Turbo version (small diameter) of the 4.6L V8 from the 918 makes more sense. Makes a good marketing pitch for the price premium, no need to develop something 100% from scratch.

Whoopsy

The 4.6L V8 can't be reused without great expense.

It was never designed to be used conventionally, it needed the hybrid system, there was no provision for accessories to be driven by the engine. All the exotic material used for the engine also are not designed to be mass produced, from the get go, the 918's engine was designed as a limited production item.

For V8 options, Porsche only has the new 4.0L one in the Panamera and soon the next Cayenne.

Or if they do indeed tack on 2 extra cylinders to the 911 flat 6, then a flat 8.

But for practical purpose, the 4.0L V8 is the only option.

fxz

All share the chassis and engines but suspensions wiseguy

either artificially limiting an engine here another there doesn t change the facts that are
NOT different designs but how they call them?
Parts bin cars

Nothing related to what Porsche should be

God save the 911