Tuesday 15th September 2009

New Model Fest From Porsche At Frankfurt

German sportscar maker reveals four new 911s and a hybrid SUV

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Few would argue with new Porsche CEO Micheal Macht's assertion that 2009 will go into the annals as an extraordinary year for the company.

Speaking at a Frankfurt press conference, he was referring to Porsche's recent absorption by the VW empire - but he could equally have been speaking about the array of new metal on the Porsche stand.

Leading the charge is the latest iteration of the iconic 911 Turbo, which has now been around for 35 years and sold almost 80,00 units according to Macht.

The Panamera also gets its first public outing, and we've got our first chance to drool over two versions of the latest 911 GT3 in 'RS' and 'Cup' guises, as well as the 911 Sport Classic - a limited edition of 250 cars featuring a new double-dome roof and a fixed ducktail spoiler reminiscent of the 1973 Carrera 2.7 RS.

In spite of the high profile corporate shenanigans surrounding the Porsche brand, Macht had a relatively upbeat message about the company's financial status.

Global sales have dropped to 75,200 over the last financial year, down 24 percent, but it's been mainly low-end Boxster/Cayman sales that have been hit - so revenues of 6.6bn Euros show 'only' a 12 percent fall.

With an eye on the future, Porsche also took the wraps of a Cayenne Hybrid SUV - expect a production model in showrooms next year, says Macht.

 

 

 

[fastgerman]

The 911 sport classic, or white with black wheels spec'd 911 looks good.

[adycav]

I must say the GT3 RS is growing on me, decals and all.

Not that I can afford a new one mind.

[dwilkie]

The 911 Turbo has only sold 8000 units? Really?

[G4HKS]

I just wish they would stop going to Halfords for their alloys

[GKP]

So where are the new models?

[jsr]

I love the Sport Classic. Easily one of the best looking Porsches in recent times. All regular 911's should have that spoiler

[CypherP]

G4HKS said:

I just wish they would stop going to Halfords for their alloys

I actually like those. I don't think they look that Halford-esque... Certainly much better than some of the designs other manufacturers are dreaming up.

I really love that Sport Classic. I'm also assuming that was the brown interior that we can see on the Sport Classic. Any chance that PH got any other shots of the interior, or a side profile with the duck tail in view? More pics of the Sport Classic please

[Springbok]

So where are the new models?

There are no "new" models just the same old shape with some different bits and a different name.

Time for a re-vamp Porsche.

It's all getting a bit boring - not to say confusing.

[350zed]

love that sports classic version

[motormania]

GKP said:

So where are the new models?

I was thinking the other day when reading about yet another Lotus Limited Edition that Lotus were the Kings of flogging something new when it's not.

I forgot, they don't come close to what Porsche have been doing for years with the 911...

Come on - every other manufacturer have moved on, why doesn't Porsche have the balls to introduce a brand new sports car, instead of these pompus little tweaks to a car that should finally be considered an all time classic.

Edited by motormania on Tuesday 15th September 12:25

[kambites]

motormania said:

Come on - every other manufacturer have moved on, why doesn't Porsche have the balls to introduce a brand new sports car, instead of these pompus little tweaks to a car that should finally be considered an all time classic.

What do you think the Boxster was if it wasn't an all-new sports car?

The 911 is an oddity though. Still as long as it sells they have no reason to change it.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th September 12:41

[motormania]

kambites said:

motormania said:

Come on - every other manufacturer have moved on, why doesn't Porsche have the balls to introduce a brand new sports car, instead of these pompus little tweaks to a car that should finally be considered an all time classic.

What do you think the Boxster was if it wasn't an all-new sports car?

The 911 is an oddity though. Still as long as it sells they have no reason to change it.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th September 12:41

The boxster was launched in 1996 - wow do you call that a new model?

[kambites]

motormania said:

kambites said:

motormania said:

Come on - every other manufacturer have moved on, why doesn't Porsche have the balls to introduce a brand new sports car, instead of these pompus little tweaks to a car that should finally be considered an all time classic.

What do you think the Boxster was if it wasn't an all-new sports car?

The 911 is an oddity though. Still as long as it sells they have no reason to change it.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th September 12:41

The boxster was launched in 1996 - wow do you call that a new model?

By Porsche's standards, very new.

I thought the 986 and 987 were very different cars under the skin though, even if the styling was more evolution than revolution. Sports cars do tend to have very long life cycles, I guess because they are smaller volume.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th September 12:49

[BoRED S2upid]

motormania said:

GKP said:

So where are the new models?

I was thinking the other day when reading about yet another Lotus Limited Edition that Lotus were the Kings of flogging something new when it's not.

I forgot, they don't come close to what Porsche have been doing for years with the 911...

Come on - every other manufacturer have moved on, why doesn't Porsche have the balls to introduce a brand new sports car, instead of these pompus little tweaks to a car that should finally be considered an all time classic.

Edited by motormania on Tuesday 15th September 12:25

Why should Porsche change the 911?. The classic Mini didn't change for 40 years!. I know thats a poor comparison but it works, people still buy them so why stop making the 911.

[johnaachen]

Can someone explain to me the Porsche range?

So its something like this?
911 911-Turbo 911-GT2 911-GT3 911-RS Club?

Is that right in ascending price/performance?!

[mat205125]

So glad that they've put some less ugly wheels onto the Turbo

[kambites]

johnaachen said:

Can someone explain to me the Porsche range?

So its something like this?
911 911-Turbo 911-GT2 911-GT3 911-RS Club?

Is that right in ascending price/performance?!

I think it goes:
Carrera
Carrera 4
Carrera S
Carrera 4S
GT3
GT3 RS
Turbo
GT2

But I could be wrong.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th September 13:02

[fastgerman]

motormania said:

kambites said:

motormania said:

Come on - every other manufacturer have moved on, why doesn't Porsche have the balls to introduce a brand new sports car, instead of these pompus little tweaks to a car that should finally be considered an all time classic.

What do you think the Boxster was if it wasn't an all-new sports car?

The 911 is an oddity though. Still as long as it sells they have no reason to change it.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th September 12:41

The boxster was launched in 1996 - wow do you call that a new model?

Errrrr

Cayman
Cayenne
Panamera - you don't get much braver than that!
Boxter
911

That's enough models!

Another front engined two door sports car could be in order soon :-)

[MiniMan64]

dwilkie said:

The 911 Turbo has only sold 8000 units? Really?

Might be a swift mod edit but I'm pretty sure that says 80,000 up there.

In other news, I've nothing against Porsche as a whole but it is getting a little repetitive. Do they even have a design department or just a man with scissors and Pritstick putting the 911 front on to everything?

[HAB]

BoRED S2upid said:

Why should Porsche change the 911?.

Porsche change the 911 constantly through a process of evolution. Each new model has significant changes over the last. it obviously works because the 911 has been at or near the top of the sportscar tree for over 40 years.

Funny how so many people think somethings new, because it has a flashy new exterior that'll probably date badly within 3 years. Its symptomatic of the comsumerist bullsh*t culture nowadays. Everything has to look new! new! new!. Problem with that attitude, is that things end up looking dated very quickly.


Thankfully, Porsche haven't gone down that route with the 911. Let the rest do it.