RE: Porsche plans smaller SUV?
Tuesday 11th October 2005
Smaller version on the way?Rumours are floating around that Porsche plans to build a small SUV to compete with BMW's X3. It'll be about 20cm shorter than the Cayenne -- itself no titch at 4,786mm.
Porsche moots smaller SUV
Mini-Cayennne on the cards, say spies
Smaller version on the way?
Speculation is that VW may build it, and that it may use more VW components than the Cayenne.
We also hear that Porsche shares jumped 1.3 per cent as investors heard that Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking was considering outsourcing the building of the forthcoming Panamera four-seater to VW.
This follows Porsche recent purchase of 20 per cent of VW, making it the largest single shareholder. Well, it keeps it all in the family: VW chairman Ferdinand Piech is the grandson of Porsche's founder, Ferdinand Porsche, and also sits on Porsche's supervisory board.
The Panamera is scheduled to go on sale in 2009.
Related story
Discussion
When in New York earlier this year - I saw, what can only be described as a mini Cayenne.... it looked exactly the same but was a lot shorter and lower.
I actually had to go back to make sure what I was seeing was correct and that it was a Porsche.
Do they already make a smaller version?
I cant imagine for one moment that they would make a smaller model for the American market of all places.
I actually had to go back to make sure what I was seeing was correct and that it was a Porsche.
Do they already make a smaller version?
I cant imagine for one moment that they would make a smaller model for the American market of all places.
This is getting bloody ridiculous. Porsche should be concentrating on building 911's with integrated rollcages that don't creak or rattle after 20k miles, combined with engines chuckling out 650+bhp. Ruf manage it, why the hell don't Porsche?
Did anyone mention Lemans.......
DAZ
(PS - Why follow BMW down the smaller SUV X3 route, when it's not been a sales success for them)
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 11th October 11:36
Did anyone mention Lemans.......
DAZ
(PS - Why follow BMW down the smaller SUV X3 route, when it's not been a sales success for them)
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 11th October 11:36
Stupid move. Nobody buys compact luxury SUV's - three years on sale or whatever it's been and I'm yet to see an X3 on the road. All this would do for porsche is degenerate brand perception (among people like me) whilst turning it into just another mark for aspirationalist wannabe's. Don't mind the Cayenne though, I see a few around where I live back home (ie: not Canberra) and I actually don't think they look too bad.
Not a fan of the Caymans styling however, though I don't doubt it's a cracking drive.
Ali.
Not a fan of the Caymans styling however, though I don't doubt it's a cracking drive.
Ali.
Interesting that they're talking about outsourcing the build of the Panamera to VW. I know Porsche have the biggest profit margin per unit or whatever it was, but I thought after they got the Japanese involved they had pretty efficient factories too. So why would outsourcing to VW be that much more efficient? Are Porsche just reaching the limit of their capacity? Or is there going to be so much commonality with a VW platform that it makes sense to build them on the same line?
los angeles said:
It's the trend: folk are down-sizing to smaller SUVs that have better gas milage..........
This trend may be more noticable in the USA where you have the Hummers etc, however over in europe where we get raped by the taxman everytime we fill up with petrol/diesel the smaller SUVs are the norm.
Someone should perhaps mention to BMW (and Porsche for their future model), that when downsizing from a standard SUV to the smaller SUV, customers expect the price downsized enough to make the smaller vehicle appear the better buy.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 11th October 15:17
LexSport said:
Interesting that they're talking about outsourcing the build of the Panamera to VW. I know Porsche have the biggest profit margin per unit or whatever it was, but I thought after they got the Japanese involved they had pretty efficient factories too. So why would outsourcing to VW be that much more efficient? Are Porsche just reaching the limit of their capacity? Or is there going to be so much commonality with a VW platform that it makes sense to build them on the same line?
Porsche recently bought a chunk of VW, maybe they are trying to get their moneys worth. (They have always had a close relationship though)
Well having just chopped my Smart in for a Rav4 due to the state of local roads, if Porsche made something this size with a proper Porker engine I'd be all over it.
Actually sod it, if I had the cash a rally-suspension 911 would do the job, just want some decent suspension travel
Still very uneasy about it all though, perhaps a sub-brand may work? Without the consistent factory race effort, the brand is getting diluted by 'lifestyle' models.
Would a stripped Cayenne be any good at rally raid type events? At least try to prove they're not just catering to the gangsta wannabes with blacked out windows and 22 inch chrome wheels.
Actually sod it, if I had the cash a rally-suspension 911 would do the job, just want some decent suspension travel
Still very uneasy about it all though, perhaps a sub-brand may work? Without the consistent factory race effort, the brand is getting diluted by 'lifestyle' models.
Would a stripped Cayenne be any good at rally raid type events? At least try to prove they're not just catering to the gangsta wannabes with blacked out windows and 22 inch chrome wheels.
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