Porsche pondering going seven-up, adding off-road coupe to lineup

[Alx]

It would appear that it will be that much easier for consumers to 'Accept no substitute' in the near future, as Porsche's burgeoning lineup is showing signs of even greater expansion. In addition to today's 911, Boxster, Cayenne and Cayman, the automaker is expected to bring its Panamera four-door coupe to market-- a platform that could well spawn a 928-style two-door luxury GT.
But even before that, Edmunds Inside Line is reporting that a teardrop-shaped body like that of the 911 could be grafted onto a high-riding AWD rally-style platform. The rumored project is said to be a result of the company's affiliation with Volkswagen, and ride on a new chassis being readied for Audi's upcoming Q5 SUV. The genre-bending coupe could be in showrooms as early as 2008.
The question begs: Will Porsche's exponentially-increasing lineup decrease its brand cachet, or add to the Stuttgart magic? Have your say in 'comments'
[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

 

[Centurion]

This seem to be itneresting. If someone is to slap us with a high performance off road coupe than it would preferably be porsche and I think that their partnership with VW has so far worked out pretty good.

 

[Deutsch]

Porsche's current four model lineup won't last forever, and neither will a five model. W/ increased cooperation w/ VW & Audi, and especially Porsche having bought VW stock, it only makes sense that Porsche's product portfolio expand through the sharing of platforms and components. Will this dilute the brand? Probably not, w/ every car Porsche has currently t's through and through a Porshce, and Wendelin Wiedeking knows better than to piss off enthusiast and owners alike w/ lackluster product. As to what we'll actually see from Porsche in an expanding model line up? Who knows? But they could do something slightly more expensive than a Boxster w/ a front engine.

 

[bum-man]

They should be working on a affordable Elise competitor not an off-road coupe.

 

[Centurion]

They should be working on a affordable Elise competitor not an off-road coupe.

Cayman?

 

[Deutsch]

They should be working on a affordable Elise competitor not an off-road coupe.

The Boxster is as affordable as a Porsche will ever get in our lifetime(we'll laugh w/ grey's if that changes, anytime soon. ) I'd be really suprised if there was a Porsche roadster or coupe that started at $35K, which wouldn't be bad, and they could easily work that w/ the upcoming VW roadster. Wow, now I'm starting to have dreams, haha. Anyways, I'd like to see Porsche do something on the cheap, but I don't know how well that would work out in reality, high barriers of entry is part of what makes this brand and class of car so desireable to begin w/. as much as that may or may not suck for you or me.

 

[bum-man]

Cayman?

I was thinking something along the lines of the original 914. I feel that the Cayman doesn't even come close to the Elise.

 

[Centurion]

Porsche cars = cheap? Negative. Eventhough if Porsche builds a 25k mini roadster it would probably end up costing 30k something when you have added a nice Bose-system, full leather option and other goodies.

 

[Deutsch]

I was thinking something along the lines of the original 914. I feel that the Cayman doesn't even come close to the Elise.

Eh, I think it would actually, same engine layout.

 

[bum-man]

Eh, I think it would actually, same engine layout.

With about 1000lbs of extra weight to carry around...

 

[Deutsch]

With about 1000lbs of extra weight to carry around...

you sure about that? I wanna see some documentation. Too lazy to look it up myself, will verify your and anyone else's info later.

 

[bum-man]

http://www.supercars.net/cars/3224.html
http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/cayman/cayman-s/featuresandspecs/?gtabindex=5

 

[Deutsch]

I'm sure you could feel the weight difference behind the wheel, but the performance figures are spot on for the MT versions. So it really doesn't make that much a difference. Even more intesting will be the Clubsport variant of the Cayman, would love to see how that would stack up against an Elise.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I was thinking something along the lines of the original 914. I feel that the Cayman doesn't even come close to the Elise.

The 914 was a failure and the VW engine did damage to Porsche.
Why an Earth would you have bought an VW 914 when there was a better car called the BMW 2002 ?!

I personaly agree with Luwa. Porsche and cheap do not go togheter.

Also could this be a competitor for the X6 ?!

 

[bum-man]

The 914 was a failure and the VW engine did damage to Porsche.
Why an Earth would you have bought an VW 914 when there was a better car called the BMW 2002 ?!

I personaly agree with Luwa. Porsche and cheap do not go togheter.

Also could this be a competitor for the X6 ?!

That was then this is now. If I'm not mistaken the Cayenne is heavily based off the VW Touareg and it's a roaring success for Porsche. I honestly don't know what your point is with the 2002 it's not even made anymore...

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I honestly don't know what your point is with the 2002 it's not even made anymore...

The point is that after the 911 the other cheaper sport choice was a BMW 2002. The 914/4 was not a real Porsche, but a marketing thing, initialy it was suposed to be sold as VW, in fact it even was sold in some countries in Europe I think. Ofcourse, there was the 914/6 -real Porsche- but this was olny a bit cheaper than the entry level 911 and started canibalizing 911 sales. Enventually it was a mess. Either an expensive real Porsche 911 treath, or a VW badged as a Porsche witch hurted the Porsche name/brand image.
Ofcourse we are going way off topic.

A Coupe Utility Vehicle could be more accetable as a Porsche, than a Cayenne.
Also I'm a fan of the Cayenne, read Turbo, Turbo S.

That was then this is now. If I'm not mistaken the Cayenne is heavily based off the VW Touareg and it's a roaring success for Porsche.

This platform was created by Audi, so it's actualy an Audi platform. Due to some agrements VW made the T-reg, Porsche the Cayenne, and because of a clause now a few years later the Audi Q7.
The Cayenne becamed Porsche's no. 1 seller a one point representing more that 50% of sales. after a couples of years of better then expectat sales, the Cayenne sales are now going down.