BlueMax

The discussions pro-con Cayenne continue. Regardless, the Cayenne is on its way to us in the USA. In many comments it was expressed that with the Cayenne Porsche is trying to maintain its customer base in its key market when those customers have other space needs. This got me thinking and here are some further possibilities for Porsche to satisfy its US customer base:

1. How about a pick-up, singl or dual cab. Shouldn't be to hard to modify the Cayenne body structure. Pickups are loved in the US, look at the sales figures. I bet there are more of them sold then SUVs. Just think of the advertsing possibilities "fastest sportiest pickup in the world".

2. Riding lawnmower! Porsche in its early history had already developed a tractor. So a Porsche badge on a mower would not seem strange and should not upset the purists. And think of the television possibilities. Since Porsche no longer races, they could enter the Speed Channel lawnmower races. Lots of publicity for relatively low bucks.

3. Having developed no.2, what about modifying it as a Golfcart. Just think of that Porsche badge at tee time.

The Cayenne could just be the beginning of a whole new Porsche. Think I'll P.S. Mr. Wiedekind.

Anyone else have ideas.

Paul

mpm '95 C4

Now that's funny...

I can just see it now, "Porsche Cup Lawn Mover Series", Thursday nights on Speed Channel - right after NASCAR Pit Lane time trials...

Make mine an electric Porsche (with sport seats), digital air cooled twin turbo sound (where 15 mph sounds like 150 mph), a great stereo (integrated with a hands free phone), and a video screen replaying memories in Porsche racing history in a continuous loop. This should make my stop-and-go morning and evening commute worthy of the modern day Porsche marquee.

iamsuperdan

I know! Let's all go complain and whine and bitch and moan about something because it's different than what we're used to.

BlueMax

The post is NOT a complaint. It may be tongue-in-cheek sarcasm but fundamentally quite serious. Why not a pick-up? Other manufacturers are producing powerful, sports-images pick-up trucks. The tractor thread is serious. Porsche sold a number of them in the fifties. So if th Porsche image is elastic beyond sports cars and other life-style accessories, then where else may Porsche's new direction lead. Let's not forget, they build airplane motors and contracted with Mooney airframes in the 80's. Also, 928 modified 8 cylinders were used in boats. However, at least the later two examples did have a sporting connotation.

Paul

ked

Paul, these are great, obvious paths that Porsche might take. However, you overlook 2 specialist niche industries that will take over the modification of Cs...
a) the Euro Tuners; TechArt, Gemballa, Ruf, Kremer, et.al. like PAG, they too want to expand the market for their skills.
b) the US Hot Rod & 4WD customizers.

Don't expect Special Wishes Dept. to take this in-house for a few years.

It is likely that if this unholy alliance focuses on th C, we may see all 25,000 sold out in a hurry, and the results on display at the Las Vegas SEMA show in short order. Yee Ha!

As to your other ideas (mowers, barstools, golfcarts) I expect Porsche Design to work its magic and license to the dominant players in the field. Purists will be relieved that these products issue from within the family.

"success has a quality all its own"

Thaddeus

Porsche is supposed to be about engineering excellence. So why not go to the cutting edge of the cutting edge? Porsche could probably come out with an exceptional high-efficiency vehicle, maybe an electric hybrid, maybe something else. More SUV's the world doesn't need. Cars that get 75 mpg it does. If Honda and Toyota can do it...

Thaddeus

mpm '95 C4

I was only half way kidding. Hybrid vechiles are the future - that's why I'm burning as much dino products today as is possible...

Flying Finn

Porsche is supposed to be about Racing & driving fast! Cayenne is not.

After that, it doesn't matter what they will build: pick-up, truck, whatever... Porsche will no longer be a pure spotscar manufacter.

LastV8

Do you think tractor owners in Italy were howling when Lamborghini started building sports cars?

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Flying Finn

[quote]Originally posted by LastV8:
<strong>Do you think tractor owners in Italy were howling when Lamborghini started building sports cars?

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Could be, but I know I would've been a little happier (thinking about those supercars) when howlin' **** with my Lambo!

996FLT6

Porsche would have been better served as described in Excellence magazine to produce a entry model sports car in the 20-30k range and developing a rear engine flat 4 with eventual upgrade of a turbo'd version. With Porsche's reputation for precision engineering they could compete with the likes of the japanese imports and also have the younger people get a taste of what a Porsche is so they can someday go up the ladder. We can't deter what's going to happen but the Cayenne is coming but let's hope what's the next step Porsche will go to and pray it be a better one. Regards. Mike

Anir

[quote]Originally posted by 996FLT6:
<strong>Porsche would have been better served as described in Excellence magazine to produce a entry model sports car in the 20-30k range and developing a rear engine flat 4 with eventual upgrade of a turbo'd version. With Porsche's reputation for precision engineering they could compete with the likes of the japanese imports and also have the younger people get a taste of what a Porsche is so they can someday go up the ladder. Regards, Mike</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nicely said, Mike. I agree.

ked

C'mon guys... a $20K Porsche in today's industrial economy? The Boxster is the "entry level sports model" Porsche! Taurus's sell for $20K! How much "reputation for precision" would remain after PAG lowered itself to the disposable "sporty performance car" market?

Maybe YOU think you would be better served, but I don't think the owners of PAG would be satisfied w/ the profit margins that $20K products yield, the kind of margins that can destroy a low volume niche manufacturer even quicker than you can say SUV. And after 3-5 years in someone else's hands, I don't think you'd want to pick one up on the resale market (that 924 collector market is real strong - I wonder why?). The young, first time Porsche buyer either leases a Boxster ($450/mo +/-) or buys a used 911 or 944/968...

The C is controversial, but let's not go off the deep end ("even a cheap sporty car w/ a Porsche badge on it is better than an excellent (tbd) non sports car..."). NOT competing with the Japanese is a pretty good business plan these days, & lest we forget, VW makes $20K performance coupes that are pretty impressive - that's where that need is met.

George from MD

I disagree Kevin. I've long believed Porsche should produce a 550 successor- if not for twenty grand then starting at thirty and stopping at forty. BMW's creating a Mini for less than twenty with an incredible amount of content. Lotus has produced a fantastic version of the minimilist sports car (and pulled its own fat out of the fire) with the "downmarket" Elise.

The Boxster, while a very nice car, is a very poor value. It's too big (take a look at one parked next to an SL- guess which takes up the most room), it's too expensive, it's not very attractive and you have to buy the overpriced leather to overcome the cheap interior.

LastV8

I agree with Kevin. Sure BMW is behind the Mini but the Mini does not carry a BMW badge. No one buying or driving the new Mini is under the illusion that they're motoring around in a real BMW. The abbreviated 318ti served that purpose. If you want a sports car in the 30K range then may I show you something in an 02 VW sir?

Lotus has done wonders with what it has. No money. Ever. With Lotus Espirit they've only ever had enough cash to update the chassis (or add a wing) or the engine at any given time as long as it was a few years apart. I don't know much about the Elise so I really can't comment on it except to say Lotus just doesn't have the cash to compete anywhere else except downmarket.

$30K Porsches are everywhere. In your classified ads.


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