rnl

Once upon a time Porsche built tractors. Give them some slack

TTCarrera

From Wikipedia:

In the 1950s, European light aircraft builders began adapting the air-cooled automobile engines from the Porsche 356 and Volkswagen Beetle into aircraft engines with a series of limited modifications. Porsche cooperated with some of these builders and produced a series of factory-built engines for about six years between 1957 and 1963, the Porsche 678 series. These relatively small engines displaced about 1.6 litres (97 cubic inches) and produced between 55 and 70 horsepower, depending on the version.

Porsche decided to re-enter the aviation market with much larger engines derived from the Porsche 911, starting development in 1981.[1] As the engines ran at higher speed than most aircraft engine designs, the propeller drive used a 0.442:1 reduction gearing so it could drive common propellers. The high operating speed meant the engine ran more smoothly than older designs, and the use of a muffler meant it was quieter as well. With about 3.2 litres (195 cubic inches) displacement, the normally aspirated N-series models produced about 210 hp, while the turbocharged T-series produced about 240 hp. This was roughly twice the horsepower of a conventional lower-rpm design of the same size. With single-lever operation, fully aerobatic fuel and oil supplies, direct fuel injection with automatic altitude compensation and optional turbocharging, the PFM 3200 series were some of the most advanced engines on the market.

After being introduced in late 1985 and starting to generate increasing interest in the general aviation (GA) market, Porsche exited the field during the massive downturn in the market in the late 1980s, closing the lines in 1991. It is suggested that the program cost them US$75 million to develop and produce the small number of engines delivered (about 80).[2] Although marketed for only a short period, the PFM was found on a variety of aircraft as the primary powerplant, or as one-off modifications. These included the Extra 330, Mooney M20L, Socata TB-16, Robin DR400, Ruschmeyer MF-85 and others. Only the M20L went into production, with 40 produced in 1988, and one more in 1989.

In a letter dated September 17, 2007, Porsche informed the FAA that they were surrendering their type certificate for the PFM 3200 engine and that they would no longer support the engine.[3] In March 2009, the FAA issued a special airworthiness information bulletin stating that type certificates for existing aircraft with the PFM 3200 engine were still valid and would remain so as long as the aircraft meet FAR part 43 maintenance requirements and FAR part 91 operation requirements. However, the bulletin also said that Porsche is not exporting new or replacement parts for the engine and there is no guidance as to how compliance would be possible once existing OEM parts are exhausted.[3]

lspain

It could be....but my wife has already told me she wants one.

TTCarrera

The BMW X3, Audi Q5 and the MB GLK seem to be selling very well. What gives you such high confidence that there's no market for a mid-size SUV?

And if you're saying that it will fail because it's ugly, then you'll have to explain how Porsche sells so many Panameras.

FlatSix911

This quotes says it all ...

I am afraid the future does not bode well unless VW allows Porsche to focus exclusively on sports cars and let their other brands like Audi focus on AWD SUVs and Sedans.
Ferrari has a successful business model with Fiat...

Cogito_Ergo_Zoom

I think this article is asking the wrong fundamental question. What they should've asked is: how is Porsche going to deal with its aging customer base by attracting younger buyers to its sports car products and how does that impact their long-term product and brand strategy. The young guys today that ostensibly will be buying their first trophy cars in 10 years can't be bothered to stop playing with Instagram or their X-boxes long enough to even care when Porsche last won Le Mans. Porsche's mystique and racing pedigree is about as relevant to them as polyester bellbottoms. "Status" in their world is having over 1000 friends on Facebook. Not to mention that with the job market these guys are coming into today that ever owning one of these cars seems about as attainable as a second home on the moon.

I read the other day that the average sports car buyer today is 56 years old. In 2008 38% of sports car buyers were over 56, whereas in 2012 that figure has risen to 47%. To put it another not-so-gentle way, half of Porsche's 911 or Cayman-buying customers may have already purchased their last sports car.

The biggest risk for Porsche is that my soon to be graduating 21 year old nephew will end up viewing the brand like I view Cadillac or Toyota today. The last time I darkened the doorstep of one of their dealerships was...uh, never.

Time to dust off the plans for a modern remake of the 914, I'd say. Let the Cayenne drivers eat cake and pray for the survival of the 911.

DrJay

There is another way to look at this. The selling of the Panameras, the Cayennes, the Macans, The Boxsters, and the Caymans, allows Porsche to continue to produce the 911... Which last time I checked is one hell of a car.

DrJay

Those are good points.

DK570

I agree. There are so few "pure" brands left. I would say Ferrari, Rolls Royce and Lotus only. If you say you drive one of those, there really is no further explanation needed. Bentley and Lamborghini are not safe with VW influence. There used to be a time when a car brand meant something, now it's basically meaningless without also mentioning the model.

Aston Martin - lost it's way with the Cygnet
Jeep - lost it's way with the Liberty, Compass, etc.
Hummer - I can't imagine how original Hummer owners felt when they found out GM was giving the Tahoe a new body and calling it a Hummer H2
Mini - lost it's way with the Countryman
Porsche - IMO lost it's way with the Cayenne - the first 4 door

Part of the reason people buy a Porsche is for the exclusivity. Let brands focus on one thing, and do that one thing well. Let's hope VW doesn't become the next GM. GM learned the hard way that Pontiac was good for GTOs and Fieros, but not so good at mini vans and SUVs. GM destroyed itself not because it didn't make good cars, but because it had too many brands with too much cross competition.

LonnieR

Ruf, in Germany has been doing those sorts of things for years. I went to the Ruf facility and Adois let my son drive his wife's boxster with a 996 modified engine...whata blast he had! He said he had it up to almost 300kph.

pdxjim

And Jaguar brings more competition to Porsche.

http://www.jaguarusa.com/models/f-type/overview/

kosmo

the M is not a mid size, the C is.
Its ugly and the overly raked rear renders it useless as a sUv.

kosmo

agreed.
when are autonomous cars coming?

Cogito_Ergo_Zoom

Just a matter of time until Google gets the costs down. Technology is a double-edged sword. Gives us the 991 which is a beast you can drive everyday but is also serving us up autonomous cars in a few more years.

pt767

The Macan will be based on the Audi Q5 platform. My wife wants one as well. I would bet that this will be the best selling Porsche.