Audi reportedly charged with developing SUVs in the Volkswagen group

[HighestOfHigh]

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but Earth knows no competition greater than sibling rivalry. With nine marques under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, things can get pretty competitive between the brands, especially as platforms and technologies are integrated and subsidiaries chosen to develop them. But then Porsche entered the fray as the 10th brand and things got that much more heated.

Reports recently emerged that Porsche was chosen over Audi to develop the platforms that would underpin sportscars for the entire group as well as luxury sedans, leaving Ingolstadt undoubtedly reeling from the defeat. But now follow-up reports indicate that Audi will, in turn, be charged with developing the next generation of sport-utility vehicles for the entire group, the next Porsche Cayenne included.

The program will reportedly center around a common modular platform that will underpin the next-generation Touareg, Q7 and Cayenne, but also extends to the development of the Q5-based Porsche Cajun. While the latter is currently in the works, both the Touareg and Cayenne were recently replaced, so their subsequent replacements would still be years off.

The move may seem a little odd considering that Volkswagen and Porsche have both been making SUVs for longer than Audi has its Q7, but Audi has been in the all-wheel drive game for longer than either. The decision was reportedly unanimous among the different divisions, though Porsche was quick to point out that final development of its SUVs will be carried out by Porsche to ensure its vehicles drive as their customers would expect.

- Audi reportedly charged with developing SUVs in the Volkswagen group — Autoblog

 

[Tarek]

Disaster for Porsche.

 

[footie]

^ Not really, Porsche will still have input in every development undertaken for them in much the same as it will be with everything that Porsche develops for it's VAG partners.

It would be very stupid to think that Audi can't engineer a car as well as Porsche/BMW or anyone else, surely the R8 has shown that Audi is one of the greatest manufacturers of automobiles. Just because the marketing department dictates that an Audi should drive like an Audi does not mean that a Porsche developed and designed by Audi won't drive like a Porsche.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

Disaster for Porsche.

Hardly.

Porsches' new role within the parameters of the VW-Group will ensure its' well-being for many years to come. It is also a guaranty that Porsches' formidable Weissach research & development facility will be utilized to the fullest of its' capacities.

As far as I can see, there are only winners in this new constellation. I find it consoling that most of the people responsible for decision making at VW are not only competent when it comes to economies of scale and finances, but are also bonafide carguys !!

The only genuinely weak link in the VW-Groups' structure is its' Spanish SEAT subsidiary. Maybe Audis' using SEATs' Martorell production facility for the assembly of its' upcoming Q3 SUV will help the Spanish brand find some financial legs.

 

[bmer]

Disaster for Porsche.

So you think Porsche would've preferred to be responsible for this SUV platform rather than the sportscar platform that they got?

 

[Sunny]

So you think Porsche would've preferred to be responsible for this SUV platform rather than the sportscar platform that they got?

Yea glad it is this way and not other way with Audi in charge of sports cars and Porsche in change of SUVs - now that would have been a disaster.

 

[footie]

Yeah the R8 was such a disaster, it's only one of the best handling cars ever and the GT being one of the finest trackday specials.