RE: Chris Harris meets Porsche R&D chief

RE: Chris Harris meets Porsche R&D chief

Friday 7th December 2012

Chris Harris meets Porsche R&D chief

Wolfgang Hatz quizzed by Harris on diesel V8 Panameras and the return of the Mezger flat-six in the RSR



PH has been chatting to a lot of senior Porsche folk of late but having focused on design Harris has been talking engineering with head of research and development Wolfgang Hatz on the LA show stand on which the new Cayman was unveiled. Hatz's past CV includes spells at BMW Motorsport, a move to Porsche for F1 engine development in 1989, Technical Director at Opel's motorsport division and then serving as head of engines and transmission development at Audi before expanding this role to the whole VW group in 2007. He's been the Porsche board member in charge of R&D since 2011.


Hatz (right) with the Porsche bigwigs at LA
Hatz (right) with the Porsche bigwigs at LA
Cayman versus 911 - is themomentum shifting towards theBoxster/Cayman?
"I have to say I was aware of this in Geneva when we launched the Boxster, but I think the 911 is something different because it is a 2+2. I am a fan of both cars but when I have a choice of which I would have as a first car, it would always be a 911. I drive a lot and 90 per cent of the time I use a 911. I had a Boxster in the summer, my wife didn't like the Boxster before because she doesn't like 'female' cars, but she likes the new Boxster.

"Basically, I see the Boxster/Cayman as a second car, and as an entry point for people coming to our brand, but the 911 is a first car. But I have to say that I like the Cayman very much."

Hybrids - how do they fit into a range that has diesel Cayennes andPanameras?[This following some unashamed gushing about life with aPanamera diesel...]
"I'm also a fan of the diesel. But diesel is not an answer in China and it is not mainstream in the United States. I found it very difficult in my former job [Audi Motorsport] to launch diesel here in the US. That's the reason I said we go to Le Mans with a diesel and race here with diesel, and today I think they launch a diesel street car for the US. Hybrid is for US and China. In Europe diesel is at the moment the answer. What is interesting is the next generation, they will be plug-in hybrids. I am pushing hard for plug-ins, then I think then hybrid can really show its potential, and that really is a cool answer to all requirements. What I found with the hybrids is that people want to drive electrically in town, and that's going to be possible with the plug-in. It's an expensive solution but it's interesting from a technology perspective. But for overall efficiency on long journeys the diesel is unbeatable.

"Also now with the Cayenne V8, everybody is surprised by the sound, from the outside it sounds like a gasoline V8."

Diesels work for Europe, hybrids elsewhere
Diesels work for Europe, hybrids elsewhere
Will it fit in the Panamera?
"The problem is not the height of the engine, but we can only make a V8 Panamera with rear-wheel drive, not four-wheel drive. We will come up some time with a solution but not yet, and a rear-wheel drive Panamera with 627lb ft, it's just too much."

The mid engined sports car...
"We have always a lot of ideas, at the moment I think this is a good idea but it's not the near future. We've just launched a new 991. Now we have Boxster and Cayman, then we have 911 variants, turbo, GT3 and so on, then the 918 next year. I think we have so many sports cars now that we don't have any need for a model above the 911 GT2 though."

Single stud wheels are a problem, will you stop providing them?
"We will continue with that. I know with the GT3 we had to modify the torque rating and we changed to new nuts with 600Nm, and if you run the car on the race track, you will eventually have to change the hubs every 15,000km."
But people forget and then you have problems.

Check yer nuts: safe if used properly he says
Check yer nuts: safe if used properly he says
"But if you use them properly, it works. We will continue to provide this system."

Lovely RSR photos just shown. Is it true that the RSR and Cup car will usethe old Mezger engine and not the new DFI motor?
[Grimacing] "I know where the photos were taken and I don't know how they did it. We want to participate next year [the next day Manthey were announced as running factory 991 RSRs at Le Mans 2013] and, yes, the RSR and Cup will use the old engine. It is very reliable and strong and it does a good job and in the Cup it will be 3.8 litres. It was an easy decision."

Sport Turismo. Looks like a finished production car...
"We've been driving the concept here in LA, we're doing some clinics in the US and in Asia and then I think will be clear if we can do such a car - one which is close to a station wagon. That was our question - if we were 100 per cent sure we wouldn't have done the concept. I like it and we have a good chance to build it."

Mezger engine for new 991 at Le Mans
Mezger engine for new 991 at Le Mans
The seven-speed manual is a bit of a disappointment, especially shiftingfifth-sixth-seventh. Any improvements coming?
"It's the first seven-speed manual in the world and because of the way it is packaged everything has to be very precise, it's good now but we need to work on it in the future."

Electric steering...
"We have put a lot of our know-how into this system so you get the feedback. We have worked very hard to get this back into the car. But anyway hydraulic steering is past - today we have to work on fuel efficiency and electric is a way to save fuel. What I don't like on electric systems where the assistance is variable and the feel is not consistent. On the Cayman and the Boxster, the car is very accurate and you get the feedback - we have tested a lot with test drivers and we have no complaints. Our number one test driver Walter Rohrl said it was difficult in the beginning but now it is good."

 

Author
Discussion

Zammy

Original Poster:

554 posts

162 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Whats with the editing on this piece? Still interesting!

spad78

149 posts

175 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Very unflattering colour for that Cayman. Interesting chat but a bit all over the place. No question on the Manual vs PDK discussion for the upcoming GT3?

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Zammy said:
What's with the editing on this piece? Still interesting!
Corrected that for you.

Zammy

Original Poster:

554 posts

162 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
Corrected that for you.
Nice1, thanx.

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
That last pic, I had to look twice to make sure it wasn't an Aston.

The first question is always a good one to ask someone who has interest in the company: "what car do you like best". rofl
The honest answer here is: "I think the're all good, just buy one of us and not the competition, and buy the most expensive you can afford please.".

Twilight1

168 posts

177 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Long live the Mezger-six.

German

203 posts

146 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
Mr Porsche used the word "Hyrid" and "Cool in the same sentence. frown
Not to worry, the man is a petrolhead of the highest order. Don't forget this is the guy responsible for getting a V10 Bi-Turbo past the board to pop in a 5 door estate car...

DodoRacing

539 posts

206 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Interesting how he categorized the old Boxster as "feminine" (which even females like his wife don't like). Not something I would expect from a top Porsche executive.

He needs to work on a better way of explaining product differentiation between the Boxster/Cayman and the 911. If you're (relatively) poor buy the Boxster and if you're rich buy the 911 is essentially what he's saying. I thought that's exactly the image they were trying to change with the new Boxster/Cayman.

Also, if the RSR/Cup cars use the Mezger engine and the new GT3/2 use the DFI engine, what happens to the Motorsport pedigree in road-going GT cars?

Luca Brasi

885 posts

173 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
DodoRacing said:
Also, if the RSR/Cup cars use the Mezger engine and the new GT3/2 use the DFI engine, what happens to the Motorsport pedigree in road-going GT cars?
Average customer won't care I think.

RX7

258 posts

243 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
DodoRacing said:
Interesting how he categorized the old Boxster as "feminine" (which even females like his wife don't like). Not something I would expect from a top Porsche executive.

He needs to work on a better way of explaining product differentiation between the Boxster/Cayman and the 911. If you're (relatively) poor buy the Boxster and if you're rich buy the 911 is essentially what he's saying. I thought that's exactly the image they were trying to change with the new Boxster/Cayman.
Exactly how i read it, the Boxster is feminine and the Cayman is entry level so you can say you own a Porsche but just not the 911 you really wanted. Which is exactly what some have been saying for years, but obviously Porsche owners have vigorously defended such statements!

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
RX7 said:
DodoRacing said:
Interesting how he categorized the old Boxster as "feminine" (which even females like his wife don't like). Not something I would expect from a top Porsche executive.

He needs to work on a better way of explaining product differentiation between the Boxster/Cayman and the 911. If you're (relatively) poor buy the Boxster and if you're rich buy the 911 is essentially what he's saying. I thought that's exactly the image they were trying to change with the new Boxster/Cayman.
Exactly how i read it, the Boxster is feminine and the Cayman is entry level so you can say you own a Porsche but just not the 911 you really wanted. Which is exactly what some have been saying for years, but obviously Porsche owners have vigorously defended such statements!
Like I said:

The honest answer here is: "I think the're all good, just buy one of us and not the competition, and buy the most expensive you can afford please.".

MartiniBianco

140 posts

149 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
spad78 said:
No question on the Manual vs PDK discussion for the upcoming GT3?
+1
Will Porsche keep making manual transmissions ?

AW35

63 posts

136 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
The test drivers can't be very good if the journo's don't like the steering as much but they do.

The obvious thing is of course is that Porsche bean counters made the choice and said you have to live with it, so the test drivers did their best but then have to put on the corporate face and tell porsche pies.

When Walter retires chapter 14 of his autobiography will be titled " Electonic Steering .. load of w*nk"




DodoRacing

539 posts

206 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Luca Brasi said:
Average customer won't care I think.
I thought the average GT customer would care as this has been a highlight feature of those cars.

DodoRacing

539 posts

206 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
ZesPak said:
Like I said:

The honest answer here is: "I think the're all good, just buy one of us and not the competition, and buy the most expensive you can afford please.".
I'm afraid you're spot on but they shouldn't say it so aloud should they? Good that he's not working for the marketing department. smile

Paul O

2,705 posts

182 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Very interesting read, thanks for that. This dude seems pretty frank and honest; most refreshing as it's usually just marketing speal that we get to here from top bods.

Nice one! smile

Paul O

2,705 posts

182 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
porsche dude said:
"But if you use them properly, it works. We will continue to provide this system."
I thought that was pretty frank biggrin

Luca Brasi

885 posts

173 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
DodoRacing said:
I thought the average GT customer would care as this has been a highlight feature of those cars.
People buy them because they are the best you can get in that market segment, that's what I think at least.

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm going to sound dumb here, but what exactly was the problem with the system?

wtdoom

3,742 posts

207 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
It says it all really , they dump the 960 ( we have so many sportscars [???] ) and parade a bloody station wagon around the states . Cup cars to have different engines to gt3 and rs models and a head of r and d more interested in hybrids and economy than sportscars .
Porsche is dead long live BMW in drag .