RE: Porsche: Time To Do A New 959
Tuesday 30th August 2011
The techno-fest that was the Porsche 959 could be getting a spiritual successor in the next few years, according to Porsche's top man.
Porsche: Time To Do A New 959
Porsche Boss reckons new model is crucial to take on Ferrari
In an interview with German magazine Suddeutsche Zeitung, Porsche CEO Matthias Muller wants to plug the gap between top-end 911s and the forthcoming 918 supercar with a successor to the 959 of the 1980s.
You might think the boys and girls at Stuttgart will be busy enough with the impending launch of the new 911, but Porsche's boss clearly has his eye on the next stage in the plan to double sales to 200,000 units in the next few years.
The predictable parts of this plan involve greatly increased technology-share with parent company VW, a four-cylinder Porsche Boxster and the new Cajun mini-SUV.
The less predictable part seems likely to involve a new 400,000-euro supercar that should help Porsche compete with the upper reaches of Ferrari's range - the likes of the 599 and FF.
As for when this will happen, or what form it will take, we simply don't know. But it'll certainly be intriguing...
(Thanks to PHer Steve Welham for the spot...)
Discussion
Interesting thing is that Porsche competed model for mode with Ferrari back in the 80's no problem. Certainly the Turbo was seen as a match for anything from the Italians.Now due to the erosion of their brand values by cheaper models that just isn't the case - as can be seen by asking prices and waiting lists - so they have to produce a new 959 just to compete with Ferrari's production models. Which means it won't get close to the new Enzo, so it's a lost cause from the start.
It makes me a little sad, particularly when i remember how special my 993 made me feel in the early 90's, but i guess you can't argue with Porsche's financial results.
It makes me a little sad, particularly when i remember how special my 993 made me feel in the early 90's, but i guess you can't argue with Porsche's financial results.
cheesyblob said:
If this really is a 959, successor, and it has 4WD, and a Highly powerful Twin-Turbo Flat-6 and Porsche rallies it, this will be a really interesting car.
What might be really interesting is if Porsche, in demonstrating that it's a four-seater and therefore eligible, plonks a just-about-within-regulation hyper-turbo'd 1.6-litre four-cylinder in the rear and enters it in WRC.Obviously the road cars would have a bigger flat-six, but motorsport tech means you can get that kind of non-road-legal power from a much smaller engine anyway.
It'd certainly make rallying a great spectacle again.
HughG said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
...they have to produce a new 959 just to compete with Ferrari's production models. Which means it won't get close to the new Enzo, so it's a lost cause from the start.
They will have the 918 by then though, one would hope that can compete, or better the new Enzo.I thought Porsche competed with Ferrari because they make sport cars that are actually usable and do not need an engine rebuild every 50.000 miles.
The owner of Pelicanparts in the US has a 959. I am sure he is glad he runs a Porsche parts service and has access to the technical know how to keep this thing in prime condition.
But perhaps I am missing the point.
The owner of Pelicanparts in the US has a 959. I am sure he is glad he runs a Porsche parts service and has access to the technical know how to keep this thing in prime condition.
But perhaps I am missing the point.
Yes, what possible form could this machine take? 911 based isn't going to take the fight to a 458, likewise Panamera based isn't going to stack up against the 599 or FF. To be a competitive and technical tour de force as the 959 was against the 288 GTO it will have to be a junior Veyron. The only engine that could be suitable, in that it has some Porsche history, is the Carrera GT V10, I don't see a flat engine having the packaging criteria for a super car in this century. Porsche would need to borrow inspiration from Nissan,s GTR to create the intensity required for such a halo machine.
It is an interesting puzzle, trying to imagine what the result could be.
It is an interesting puzzle, trying to imagine what the result could be.
Ex Boy Racer said:
Interesting thing is that Porsche competed model for mode with Ferrari back in the 80's no problem. Certainly the Turbo was seen as a match for anything from the Italians.Now due to the erosion of their brand values by cheaper models that just isn't the case - as can be seen by asking prices and waiting lists - so they have to produce a new 959 just to compete with Ferrari's production models. Which means it won't get close to the new Enzo, so it's a lost cause from the start.
It makes me a little sad, particularly when i remember how special my 993 made me feel in the early 90's, but i guess you can't argue with Porsche's financial results.
In the 1980s Porsche's 911 may have managed to compete with the 308/328 family of cars from Ferrari, but there was nothing in the Porsche model range to compare with the Testarossa 12 cylinder evolutions until the 959 came along (together with the F40)It makes me a little sad, particularly when i remember how special my 993 made me feel in the early 90's, but i guess you can't argue with Porsche's financial results.
So basically they're going to re-launch one of their current range with some modifications under the body then slap new 'shiny' badge on it?
Or will they think outside the box and make something that looks different AND better than the monstrosity that is the Panamera *yuck*
Or will they think outside the box and make something that looks different AND better than the monstrosity that is the Panamera *yuck*
RichardD said:
Take a 911
Make it a bit wider and longer (than even the 997 replacement).
Turn the engine/box round, scrap the rear seats to make it mid engined.
Job done.
how boring.Make it a bit wider and longer (than even the 997 replacement).
Turn the engine/box round, scrap the rear seats to make it mid engined.
Job done.
OlberJ said:
RichardD said:
Take a 911
Make it a bit wider and longer (than even the 997 replacement).
Turn the engine/box round, scrap the rear seats to make it mid engined.
Job done.
"Hello...RUF?"Make it a bit wider and longer (than even the 997 replacement).
Turn the engine/box round, scrap the rear seats to make it mid engined.
Job done.
MichelV said:
I thought Porsche competed with Ferrari because they make sport cars that are actually usable and do not need an engine rebuild every 50.000 miles.
Indeed. My uncle drives a F430 (his forth ferrari) and his wife has a Cayman S. He's has also owned a 911 quite a few eyars ago.In his own words: "The Porsche is a car that you know will not let you down, every morning you know it's going to start. The Ferrari will have you back to the main dealers every month and the bill will be 4 figures"
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