Porsche C7S coupe revealed

300bhp Boxster-based driver's car due this year

By PH Staff / Wednesday, 12 January 2005 / Loading comments

This week's Autocar sees Porsche long-awaited and rumoured coupe break cover. The report suggests that the new car, the C7S, will be aimed at driving enthusiasts, and slot between the Boxster and the iconic 911 both in terms of price and performance. Though some of the Boxster's underpinnings will be used, it will be different enough not to look like a hardtop bolted onto the existing car, if the pictures in Autocar reflect reality. It looks somewhat like a mini-911 from one angle, especially the curvature of the roof, though the front (see pic) looks much like the recently launched Boxster.

Autocar reckons the C7S will cost £50,000 -- £8,000 less than a base spec 911, though perhaps perilously close -- and use a mid-mounted, 3.4-litre 300bhp engine in Porsche-standard flat-six configuration. Though initial versions will get a manual gearbox, it'll be joined later by a dual clutch semi-automatic, similar to the VW's DSG. We've driven a DSG-powered car and it should be a great match for the C7S.

A cheaper and less powerful 3.2-litre C7 will join it, and, in a nod to the last affordable driver's car, the 968CS, a more focussed C7 Club Sport designed to appeal to hardcore drivers.

Delivery of the first cars is due before the end of 2005.

Discussion has already started here: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=148377