Thursday 11th September 2008

New '914' Mooted In VW-Porsche Plans

Rumours suggest spiritual successor to 914

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Beautiful original 914

With VW set to launch a new sportscar concept at the Los Angeles Auto show in November, speculation is mounting that the car could herald the revival of spiritual successor to the Porsche 914.

With Porsche now in the driving seat at VW, a report by Motor Trend in the US suggests that senior Porsche executives are showing a strong interest in the VW sports car project, heralding the possibility of a new collaboration in the same vein as the 914 sold by VW and Porsche from 1969 to 1976.

The new VW roadster is said to borrow heavily from the VW group parts bin to keep costs low, but the concept is built around a lightweight aluminium space frame chassis with a mid-mounted 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine – with petrol and diesel versions under consideration. Design work has been conducted under the auspices of VW’s styling chief Walter de’Silva.

The VW roadster project has been circulating for years in various guises, but the insiders are optimistic that a version of the L.A. Show car could be on sale by 2011.

If Porsche was to step in  with its own version of the roadster, it is likely to be powered by the 2.7 litre flat-six Boxster engine. However the original top-selling 914 was powered by a four cylinder engine, and a Porsche roadster with a version of VW’s engine is not outside the realms of possibility.

[LM-GTO]

Seems like a good plan to me, and I expect it'll be extrememly popular. (Depending on styling) Although it'll be poo pooed by small minded badge snobs like the original.

[lightweight]

I think it would be great if they could keep the weight down and make it cheep.

[Garlick]

lightweight said:

make it cheep.

Sorry lightweight, but my sandwich is now all over my screen as I imagined it making bird noises

[minicab]

Great idea in my opinion.... Make it small, make it light, and make it quick


"But it's not a proper Porsche......"

[Snoggledog]

Surely that'll end up being just be a cut down Boxster

[mulletmark]

Wasn't it the 914 which nearly sank Porsche in the first place?

[kambites]

Hmm, a VAG Elise competitor maybe? Sounds good to me.

[Beaker_u_muppet]

As long as it doesn't look like a Porsche, I think its a good idea.

[gifdy]

I remember seeing loads of these as a lad when I was living in Germany. Loved the look of them then, still do.

Porsche Announce !

[HAB]

The original 914 is a great little car,and prices of the 914/6 have skyrocketed in the last few years.

Good idea to bring back a properly small lightweight Porsche. But it has to be just that: small and light.

[Mark Benson]

Great idea.....

....except if Porsche make it underperform so as not to draw people away from the Boxster (like they did with the Cayman/911).

And they don't let VAG do the handling

[Dodgey_Rog]

Talking to one of my colleagues recently about a 911 i saw up the road, a 1970's version and he was telling me that he was offered a Porsche and just bought it blind, turned out to be one of these, so he gave it to his son as his first car!!!!

Lucky b*stard!!

[McReis]

Porsche will be destrying the image they've been building up lately. Panamera and now this... it's sick.

[vrooom]

I alway liked 914. i hope they do it pretty, not bloody ugly.

[daveco]

If they could make a better looking version than the original that'd be great, the front is woeful on it.

[scotty_917]

'New 914'........next we'll be having the 'new' Karmann Ghia!!! Where's the originality in regurgitating old designs?

[Mattygooner]

I think there is a difference in saying the "new 914" and it's spiritual successor. Sounds good, always wanted a 914/6 but as long as it looks ok, i think it would do well. But, it has to be more Elise than TT.

[Strawman]

I thought the Boxster was the new 914.
Old 914, mid engined 2 seater, cheaper than the 911, slower than the 911.
Boxster, mid engined 2 seater, cheaper than the 911, sower than the 911.
Similar, which is the front and which is the back looks. The only difference is the Boxster is a convertible, so make one with a fixed roof and your done?

[iRoll]

Strawman said:

The only difference is the Boxster is a convertible, so make one with a fixed roof and your done?

Cayman ring any bells?

[kambites]

Porsche have done what everyone else does. The Boxster is the model below the current 911, but is bigger than the original 911 so now they need something else to fit into the market that the 914 was designed to compete in. Porsche's Lupo, if you will.