LAURIER

Porsche's new SUV faces opposition - sight unseen

Reuters / February 14, 2002

DETROIT -- Porsche's entry into the growing sport utility vehicle segment later this year has rankled some devotees of the macho German sports car maker, who fear their beloved image of the ultimate road machine will be compromised by suburban sensibilities.

The Porsche Cayenne remains shrouded in secrecy. A Porsche Web site shows only the shadowy outline of the SUV, and its public debut won't come until late this year, perhaps at the Paris auto show in September.

But already, some Porsche lovers fear the Cayenne will attract a new breed of customers to the exclusive group of predominately male Porsche owners.

"People have talked about how they are worried about pulling up at a stoplight and seeing a suburban housewife in the Cayenne putting on her lipstick," said Nick Twork, an analyst with the automotive consultants AutoPacific. "It's a gold chain and chest hair brand, to some extent."

To be sure, with prices starting at about $42,000 for the Boxster and $67,900 for the 911, Porsche attracts an elite and car-loving crowd. Many Porsche owners are the kind of people who debate the merits of water- versus air-cooled engines.

Porsche counters that many Cayenne buyers could be current Porsche owners looking for more utility or seating space for their kids. Typical Porsche owners also have a foreign-made sedan and a sport utility vehicle parked in their garage.

FORK IN THE ROAD

But Porsche's own executives admit to hearing a lot of complaints lately that the Cayenne, expected to go on sale in the United States late this year or early next year at a price of $50,000 to $70,000, will divert the company from its sports car heritage.

Porsche expects to build about 25,000 Cayennes annually at a new Leipzig, Germany plant, with about 75 percent of those exported, mostly to the United States. The new SUV will raise Porsche's worldwide sales by nearly 50 percent from the 55,000 sold in the last fiscal year ended July 2001, Porsche said.

"From the time of the first 356 in 1948, Porsche has built nothing but sports cars. And now all of the sudden they are going in an entirely different direction," said Neiland Pennington, the executive editor of the monthly trade publication Modern Metals, who has owned four Porsches. "Porsche has been the specialist all these years and its got a cult following."

But Porsche says the Cayenne will not disappoint.

"We've received a lot of criticism that we are breaking away from our heritage by building something other than a sports car," Porsche Cars of America Chief Operating Officer Richard Ford said in a speech last month. "But the Porsche SUV will be different and better. Porsche intends to put the sport back into the sport utility equation."

The industry trade publication AutoWeek said that the Cayenne will offer three different engines, including a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V-8 engine capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 miles (96.5 km) per hour in five seconds flat, making it the fastest SUV on the market.

CAYENNE CROSSING

Porsche also argues that the Cayenne will ensure its independence and future viability. The company, which bills itself as the world's most profitable automaker, nearly went bankrupt in the early 1990s when the U.S. economy went into recession, the stock markets tanked and the sale of luxury goods dried up.

Perhaps dampening some criticism, German luxury automakers BMW AG and DaimlerChrysler AG have also entered the luxury SUV market with the BMW X5 and the Mercedes M-Class. Both the X5 and the M-Class have contributed to the growth of the German automakers, without apparently harming their brand identities.

To legitimize the off-road capability of the Cayenne, Porsche announced last week its Cayenne Crossing Initiative, a program to restore some historic U.S. trails accessible by SUVs.

Should any Porsche sports car lover still be perturbed, the Cayenne will also help fund the development of future Porsche sports cars, such as the high-performance Carrera GT, expected to cost between $350,000 to $450,000 when it goes on sale next year.

Mike in Chi

[quote] "It's a gold chain and chest hair brand, to some extent." <hr></blockquote>

Ouch.

I don't know about all you guys, but I'm more the "bald, middle-aged, a**hole" stereotype.

thanks for the post Rich, it's interesting reading.

Re: the last paragraph -- let's hope they sell enough peppers to bring the GT's price down to $100,000.

M in C

Viken

<img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" /> <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" /> <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" />

I am really getting tired of these Cayenne posts here. You now, there is an SUV forum on these boards. Please keep this subject out of here. <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" /> <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" />

Mike in Chi

Viken

That doesn't sound like the usual you.

What's wrong, is your gold chain pulling your chest hairs?



Mike

pmcgrath

So you have to have chest hairs to own a porsche.......sigh....... Gold chain too?.... How about grey hair, a fake rolex, and gucci slipper shoes? <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

Mike in Chi

Viken

That doesn't sound like the usual you.

What's wrong, is your gold chain pulling your chest hairs?



Mike

Viken

Mike,

It was merely a suggestion and, no I don't have a gold chain. I just think with all the OT and picture posting going on here, these boards are going to the dogs quicker than the downhill skiers at Salt Lake.

Sorry I sounded off the way I did.

Bill H. Ocala Fl.

Viken,

How does Porsche information equate to driving the boards to the dogs?

The Cayenne is coming no matter what some wish would happen and with it being a Porsche with little information known about it who should be surprised that people are posting what they find.

Having seen the Cayenne I was very pleasantly surprised at it apperance. I think it will actually be a success and help Porsche remain independent. Something that should be very important to every Porsche enthusiast.

JC in NY

Bill,

How can you say the Cayenne will be a "true Porsche"? You must not know much anything about Porsche's rich history. You are using these cliches without thought.

The Cayenne may be "all that", but don't try to tell us that it has a strong connection to the Porsche that we know. We're not stupid. We're skeptical, but not stupid.

For background reading on Porsche "true history" I recommend Karl Ludvigsen "Excellence Was Expected". There you will see how the Porsche has evolved and how and why each model has satisfied us.

Viken

Bill,

If I want to read about your beloved pepper, I would go to <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/scripts/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=23" target="_blank">Porsche Cayenne Forum</a> and look for whatever information you may have to offer. This is a 993 board where, I for one, would like to read about information pertaining to that specific model. Occasionally, people who own 993's would like to ask questions about a second or third car and that's fine. But, if you want to make announcements about a new model or something along the lines, please put it in that topic's forum.

Oh and, by the way, everyone of the dealers I know who attended the preview last week was mostly disappointed in the Cayenne.

That's all!

Anir

As the man who recently discussed his Scotch and Bourbon preferences on the 993 board, I may take a blasting for this, but...

I believe Viken is simply suggesting that John D. has kindly created a specific section for the Cayenne. Can't think of any other reason for that "SUV" heading in the left hand column. Bill, I can't find any Cayenne-bashing in Viken's post, so I'm not sure what set you off (BTW, I love Suncoast's Parts Dept - buy almost everything from Phil Anderson)

When John D. finally creates the long-awaited Hard Liquor section, I'll know where I belong. <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" />

Bill H. Ocala Fl.

Just because it is different than the 911 does not make not a Porsche. The 944, 924, 914, and 928 all received similar comments from the so called purist. But each now has it's own Porshe enthusiast following.

Being different does not mean it is any less a Porsche. IMHO

Viken

[quote]Originally posted by Anir:
<strong>I believe Viken is simply suggesting that John D. has kindly created a specific section for the Cayenne. Can't think of any other reason for that "SUV" heading in the left hand column. Bill, I can't find any Cayenne-bashing in Viken's post, so I'm not sure what set you off.</strong><hr></blockquote>

LOL! It doesn't take much to set Bill off. <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" />

[quote]<strong>When John D. finally creates the long-awaited Hard Liquor section, I'll know where I belong. <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

I'll be the first to join you there. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Bill H. Ocala Fl.

Then Viken they kept there comments to themselves because I was there and there were few negative comments from the dealers I was with.

As for the particular forum, it is often good to spread the information around. Like not posting how well Rennlist and Suncoast did in sponsoring The Racers Group at Daytona just on the Racing Forum.

Many may find fault with Porsche building the Cayenne but they are and it will be a good Porsche, all be it different.

pmcgrath

Hard Liquor.. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> Where??... <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />