KN For the Discerning Petrolhead?
Discussion
I was amused to see a TV advert for the Cayenne (the Turbo S, natch) here in the Yeuuww Ess of Aye that showed said beast standing still in the drive being revved enthusiastically with a phone on the ground behind one of the exhausts.
Presumably to demonstrate to the septic on the other end of the line that Porsche produce sporty cars.
Presumably to demonstrate to the septic on the other end of the line that Porsche produce sporty cars.
The guy in the film is the market they're going after with the Cayenne. I've seen that spot too, and it makes me want to barf.
Right now there's an uproar about the fact that the Cayenne won't go in the snow. Imagine that, a 4WD vehicle with real wide rubber than won't go in the snow. Ha ha, everyone knows skinny tires are the best for the snow, but if Porsche put skinny tires on the beast, then they would be sued for poor engineering and tire spec. Go figure.
The guy with the tele on the driveway revving the motor for his buddy is one of those guys trying to figure out why a Volvo 240 drove by him in the snow at the ski resort, when the Cayenne wouldn't even get out of the parking lot (true story) :-)
Dogsharks
Right now there's an uproar about the fact that the Cayenne won't go in the snow. Imagine that, a 4WD vehicle with real wide rubber than won't go in the snow. Ha ha, everyone knows skinny tires are the best for the snow, but if Porsche put skinny tires on the beast, then they would be sued for poor engineering and tire spec. Go figure.
The guy with the tele on the driveway revving the motor for his buddy is one of those guys trying to figure out why a Volvo 240 drove by him in the snow at the ski resort, when the Cayenne wouldn't even get out of the parking lot (true story) :-)
Dogsharks
My point was that Autocar do not appear to be suggesting it lacks competance as a 4X4, which I think is what was being suggested earlier in this thread. It isn't my choice of car so I have no axe to grind, but I have not seen anything that suggests the KN is inferior off road (or on) to its comfy German 4X4 rivals ?
I think that some of you are missing the point.IMO...Porsche are doing what they think is necessary to stay in business.Look at the state that Ford are in...surely it is better for Porsche to stay profitable,so that they can keep making 911's and Boxsters.
IMO they wouldn't be around for long(independantly anyway) if all they made were sports cars.
(All IMO!)
Steve
IMO they wouldn't be around for long(independantly anyway) if all they made were sports cars.
(All IMO!)
Steve
clubsport said:
With respect Steve, there is a difference between staying in business and being the most profitable car company per unit produced.
It appears they are doing what they can to exploit the brand to get the most profit...
With respect also, it's their brand to exploit though isn't it CS ? I don't see what all the fuss is about. Porsche, the family company, has always been about more than just sports cars.
And there's nothing wrong with maximising profits, just ask Henry-F
>> Edited by HermanTheGerman on Wednesday 10th December 09:40
Porsche seem to be doing all they can to survive - nay, prosper - as an independent car manufacturer.
If they didn't do models like KN then they would probably be like Lamborghini - struggle and then get taken over by Audi/VW etc. And the profitable mother company would produce the 4x4s people want to buy.
Porsche decided to work with VW on the KN as a partner, so they are already half in bed with Wolfsburg. They are just trying to remain independent enough not to be taken over by them.
However, the Porsche brand is being diluted by the KN. Porsche now longer exclusively make sports cars - it's that simple. Porsche to our kids and their kids won't mean what it meant to us when we were growing up. Of course, that is just a romantic argument. Some of the brand essence went when they started designing toasters
If they didn't do models like KN then they would probably be like Lamborghini - struggle and then get taken over by Audi/VW etc. And the profitable mother company would produce the 4x4s people want to buy.
Porsche decided to work with VW on the KN as a partner, so they are already half in bed with Wolfsburg. They are just trying to remain independent enough not to be taken over by them.
However, the Porsche brand is being diluted by the KN. Porsche now longer exclusively make sports cars - it's that simple. Porsche to our kids and their kids won't mean what it meant to us when we were growing up. Of course, that is just a romantic argument. Some of the brand essence went when they started designing toasters
What on earth do you mean by that statement Herman. I am well known in the parish for my acts of generosity to the elderly and infirm. Ask any of the Sunday congregation!!
Re: K-N and snow go on the camp 4 artic driving course then tell me it doesn`t work in the snow !!
Henry "We sell em cheaper cos we stck em higher" Firman.
Re: K-N and snow go on the camp 4 artic driving course then tell me it doesn`t work in the snow !!
Henry "We sell em cheaper cos we stck em higher" Firman.
I don't see the problem with Porsche producing a Chelsea Tractor myself. Ok, it would be a problem if they discontinued one of their nice cars in order to biuld this new thing. However, if you don't like it, don't buy it. Just put your money down for a new Beetle Coupe, and let the Mummies buy the KN's to ferry their little darlings to school.
Absolutely.
It is only brand essence that is being affected (like if Prada started making 40 quid shell suits, or if Chanel came out with a 1.99 deodorant for Boots), so only a few romantic purists who really care for that kind of thing can complain.
The image of owning and driving a Porsche will invariably change, though. It will become an expensive, luxury brand - rather than the enthusiasts' choice. More B&O and less Mark Levinson, if you like. That is sad as I think it will see a return to the 80s yuppie image, ie posh school mums hooning around in Cayennes. I would rather people saw me as an enthusiast if I plonked the key ring down in a crowded Soho winebar
It is only brand essence that is being affected (like if Prada started making 40 quid shell suits, or if Chanel came out with a 1.99 deodorant for Boots), so only a few romantic purists who really care for that kind of thing can complain.
The image of owning and driving a Porsche will invariably change, though. It will become an expensive, luxury brand - rather than the enthusiasts' choice. More B&O and less Mark Levinson, if you like. That is sad as I think it will see a return to the 80s yuppie image, ie posh school mums hooning around in Cayennes. I would rather people saw me as an enthusiast if I plonked the key ring down in a crowded Soho winebar
domster said:
It is only brand essence that is being affected (like if Prada started making 40 quid shell suits, or if Chanel came out with a 1.99 deodorant for Boots), so only a few romantic purists who really care for that kind of thing can complain.
I'm sorry Dom. You cannot compare Porsche making the KN to Prada making a shell suit. It is still a 'real' Porsche in terms of the design and engineering skills that have gone into making it.
domster said:
The image of owning and driving a Porsche will invariably change, though. It will become an expensive, luxury brand - rather than the enthusiasts' choice. That is sad as I think it will see a return to the 80s yuppie image.
It is already sad but true that most people view 993, 996 and even Boxster drivers in that way anyway.
HermanTheGerman said:
It is only brand essence that is being affected (like if Prada started making 40 quid shell suits, or if Chanel came out with a 1.99 deodorant for Boots), so only a few romantic purists who really care for that kind of thing can complain.
I'm sorry Dom. You cannot compare Porsche making the KN to Prada making a shell suit. It is still a 'real' Porsche in terms of the design and engineering skills that have gone into making it.
But Prada may make a really good job of the shell suit, and use the finest hand stitched crimpolene... it may still be made and designed well, but is it the art of the marque?
OK, it's a pretty crap analogy. But the Porsche sportscar brand will be diluted by a sports utility vehicle. It's not what Porsche should be making to keep the marque's bloodline intact. But it is what it should be making to stay in business, retain independence and make big profits.
Seeing as you ask:
- Keep boxster, introduce RS and boxster coupe as entry level coupe
- Keep 911, make more GT3s and GT3-RSs. Do a GT2-RS as the flagship in the range.
- Carrera GT
Don't produce the Cayenne - but get your partner veedubya to launch a Toureg as the VW Toureg RS, engineered by Porsche. (Like the RS2, Mercedes 500E).
Make the toasters and kettles a bit better.
- Keep boxster, introduce RS and boxster coupe as entry level coupe
- Keep 911, make more GT3s and GT3-RSs. Do a GT2-RS as the flagship in the range.
- Carrera GT
Don't produce the Cayenne - but get your partner veedubya to launch a Toureg as the VW Toureg RS, engineered by Porsche. (Like the RS2, Mercedes 500E).
Make the toasters and kettles a bit better.
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff