jkautz

The DNA of the 911 is seen in all their models. Including the Taycan. It is the benchmark used for every vehicle in their lineup. If the Taycan is the flagship. Then the Volt is the flagship of Chevrolet




And the Taycan is not going to “start” at $150. Obviously lower end variants will be added

Caustic

You should probably try to have a discussion instead of just being a douche.

jkautz

How about looking at the comment right above yours.... once again. Ignorant

Caustic

First off, Porsche tried to kill off the 911. And it was supposed to be replaced be the 928. Decades as a flagship?

The Cayenne was really a VW Touareg. 911 DNA in all their models?

"Taycan, New Electrified Flagship of Porsche", Forbes

"The Taycan Turbo S is the current flagship, maybe of the entire Porsche range at this point", Jalopnik


Like I said, you are a douche.

K-A

Has this POS STILL not been actually DRIVEN yet?!

STG must be hitting overtime to keep the hype machine flowing (or has even that well dried up).



.... Meanwhile, the Taycan already has a (record setting) Ring time.

Noah Fect

Guessing you guys aren't NSX fans.

As for the flagship designation, that isn't really the right way to think about it. If you believe the executives, the Taycan is a literal bet-the-company move. They have reportedly spent the equivalent of over six billion dollars on that program.

When someone new comes on board at Porsche -- either a hot-shot new hire straight out of school or a respected veteran engineer poached from a competitor -- where do you think that person is assigned? Designing nubbins and cupholders? Chopping two more cylinders off the 9A1 for the company's new line of golf carts? No, they are either assigned to the critical-path profit center -- meaning SUVs -- or they are assigned to the EV program.

The 911 is both a sinecure for old-guard managers on their way to retirement, and a training ground for newbie designers and B-list engineering talent. (Watch the videos, for Pete's sake! They are actually proud of that CHMSL.) Despite being one of the most profitable cars around on a per-unit basis, the 911 doesn't command the necessary sales volume to dominate the revenue picture, and nobody is under the illusion that it will in the future. So it doesn't drive the company's vision in any but the most superficial respects.

ipse dixit

While I agree with the overall tenor of your post, I think that last paragraph is not exactly right.

While the 911, even being the most profitable model out there, does not (as you say) "command the necessary sales volume to dominate the revenue picture" it is still nonetheless a necessary and indispensable means to an end for Porsche.

Without the 911, people would not be drawn to the marque, either for the SUVs (a Macan or Cayenne) or for the recently revealed Taycan.

In other words, in a world where Porsche stopped selling 911s, would people still care enough to pay (and pay a premium) for a Porsche Macan? Or a Taycan?

Some would, I'd imagine.

But most wouldn't, I'd bet.

Cuz lets face it. At this price point, hoi polloi are brand snobs to some degree. Myself included.

K-A

Exactly. Just look at the Taycan marketing. The 911’s importance goes far beyond its own actual profitability. It’s the marketing halo of the brand. Porsche is the “911 company” in that every car is “the 911 of [enter segment].” They need to keep the 911 desirable, of a more engaging era (“old school charm with new school qualities and capabilities” a’la playing by its own rules in a modern age), and unique not just for its own success, but for the brand to continue to base its entire design and soul around it.

Noah Fect

In other news, 1.4 billion not-so-Red Chinese wouldn't know a 911 if it ran over them in the middle of Tiananmen Square.

Not dissing the 911, don't get me wrong, but especially for prospective Taycan customers, it's no longer a big factor IMO. The company can coast on the reputation of the Macan and Cayenne alone at this point. They are arguably doing us a favor by continuing to build sports cars at all.

jkautz

lol I can see I hit a nerve

i want to congratulate you. You can actually google key terms!!

I can only IMAGINE how many articles searching the 911 flagship.

ill hold judgement when the Taycan actually develops a legacy... like the 911. So check in with me in 55 years

Noah Fect

Kidnap the CEO's wife/children/dog and tell him the ransom is that he has to kill off either the Taycan or the 911 product line. That's how you can tell which one is the "flagship."

Remember that the 992 has been package-protected for a future hybrid drive. Was the Taycan package-protected for a flat six?

Meanwhile, back in Bowling Green....

Caustic

Yes, because you back up and articulate your discussion points so well. Good job!

jkautz

I’ll let the 911 do the talking, while you google your two little articles..

CaymanCarver

My apologies, I failed to insert the link to the video. Here it is:
First I've heard of it.. and why "pre-production" cars? At this stage after a "Reveal", there's usually production units being distributed for publicized evaluation.

Ahh, so there has been a "Press Embargo". Again, that's the first I've heard anybody admit to it.
You are spilling some serious beans!

I'd start prepping my response for a couple weeks from now, when NOTHING happens.

A United Auto Workers Strike just kicked off. => more delays for the c8. LINK

Its been rumored that Porsche is making a behind-the-scenes play to buy Tesla.

Insider details here: https://rennlist.com/forums/taycan-a...l#post16090479

Noah Fect

Looks like they accidentally wired the 800 volt bus to the seat heater...

And that's exactly what happened, very shortly after the introduction.

New to the business, I take it? Press embargoes are standard procedure across all major manufacturers including Porsche. The idea is to keep from appearing to favor one publication over another, and to give the journalists time to write reasonable articles without competing to see who can publish the lamest crap first.

Typically the lead times are at least a couple of months due to print schedules. There have definitely been some journalist test drives.

Bummer, all right. The peasants are revolting as usual...

I guess Musk has been Tweeting again. Big fan of his work, but holy cow, what an AW.