[Rumormill]: Porsche 550 rumors resurface

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Another day, another rumored entry-level Porsche. Auto Express is reporting that the German sports car manufacturer may be looking into resurrecting the 550 moniker for a new sub-Boxster model. Stop us if you've heard this one before, but the article claims that the ride will be based on the same bones as the Volkswagen Bluesport Concept that debuted way back in 2009.

The resurrected 550 will get its power from a new 1.6-liter flat-four with a galloping 200 horsepower. The pep will reportedly be shuffled to the rear wheels via a good old-fashioned manual transmission, though Auto Express reports that Porsche may eventually offer a PDK dual-clutch gearbox, as well.

Curb weight is expected to land in the 2,600-pound range thanks to the use of a manual top, and the dash to 60 miles per hour should take somewhere in the neighborhood of six seconds. Is your mouth watering yet?

Porsche 550 rumors resurface — Autoblog

 

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Porsche's decision on whether to build an entry-level roadster will depend on the global economy, CEO Matthias Mueller said.

Mueller said that if the automaker decides to go ahead with the car, sales would begin at the earliest in the third quarter of 2014, but probably later.

A decision on production will depend on how the global economic situation pans out, particularly in relation to the auto industry, Mueller said.

"The financial crisis is real and we need to see how far it develops into an economic crisis develops,'' Mueller told the Financial Times Deutschland in an interview published Monday. "If this happens and it leads to a cooling of the auto industry, then this would certainly impact our strategy."

Earlier this year, Mueller told Automotive News Europe that the carmaker is assessing whether to launch an entry-level roadster below the Boxster, which would be a successor to the 550. He said sales could start in 2014.

Mueller told the Financial Times Deutschland that the company may reach a decision on the car soon but may also delay deciding until until next year.

Cheapest model

If built, the roadster, along with the new Cajun small SUV, would represent a move by the automaker to attract customers not usually able to afford its other models.

Mueller said an economic downturn may hit the premium segment next year but even without the introduction of a small roadster, Porsche is on course to double annual unit sales to 200,000 by 2018.

The new 911 and Cajun, as well as growth in developing markets and an expansion of the automaker's dealer network, will enable Porsche to hit the goal, Mueller said.

Sales of Porsche cars rose 28.2 percent in year-on-year figures to 100,391 units in the first 10 months.

Porsche, which currently sells a third of its cars in China, may also consider local production in the country, Muller was quoted as saying in the report.

Read more: Economic downturn might hit plans for Porsche small roadster - Autoweek

 

[Levi68]

Very good news. Concurrence is always a good thing. I hope he GT86/BRZ will have succes, this will then push other car makers to make light-fun-cars. There are many rumours surficing: Porsche 550, Honda S2000, Nissan Silvia, Alfa 4C, new Mazda MX-5. I hope BMW will at last come with their Z2 that I wait since years already.

 

[klier]

550 can't be used I guess because BMW own that, but I REALLY like a number instead of a stupid name. Names are not for real cars, real cars are in numbers.

 

[Levi68]

550 can't be used I guess because BMW own that, but I REALLY like a number instead of a stupid name. Names are not for real cars, real cars are in numbers.

Funny what you say, not wrong but also only a subjective preference. On some other forum someone said the exact opposite. I personaly do not care, let it be either names or numbers but through the entire range. I like MP4-12C.

 

[klier]

There's a couple of exceptions, like Lamborghini and Rolls Royce.

But more 'down to earth' cars? Nah.....

 

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Porsche to delay entry-level roadster, report says

FRANKFURT -- Porsche plans to delay the introduction of an entry-level roadster to its model lineup amid worries that the car could dilute the brand's image, the automaker's CEO Matthias Mueller was quoted as saying in a German magazine.

''Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche,'' Mueller was cited as saying in the business publication Wirtschaftswoche on Sunday.

In February, Mueller told Automotive News Europe that the company was assessing a small mid-engine sports car as a possible successor to the iconic Porsche 550 of the 1950s. He said such a model could launch in 2014.

The roadster, along with the Cajun small SUV, was seen as an attempt by Porsche to broaden the appeal of the luxury brand as it strives to boost annual global sales to more than 200,000 units by 2018 from 118,867 in 2011.

Mueller told Wirtschaftswoche that he expects annual sales of 50,000 for the Cajun, which launches next year.

He said Porsche is considering launching a new sports car positioned above the 911. The new car would cost between 300,000 euros and 400,000 euros, compared with 250,000 euros for the top-range 911 GT2 and 750,000 euros for the 918 Spyder.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120116/ANE/120119865#ixzz1jgaw04lD

 

[Guibo]

Porsche plans to delay the introduction of an entry-level roadster to its model lineup amid worries that the car could dilute the brand's image, the automaker's CEO Matthias Mueller was quoted as saying in a German magazine.

''Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche,'' Mueller was cited as saying in the business publication Wirtschaftswoche on Sunday.

The roadster, along with the Cajun small SUV, was seen as an attempt by Porsche to broaden the appeal of the luxury brand as it strives to boost annual global sales to more than 200,000 units by 2018 from 118,867 in 2011.

Rather ridiculous position by Porsche, IMO. The Cayenne diluted the brand's image, yet they built it. The Panamera diluted the brand's image, yet they built it. Next, we are seeing a baby soft-roader, the Cajun. So Porsche draws the line at affordable roadsters? This smells like Porsche is defining their brand image as a builder of premium sports vehicles by putting "premium" before "sports." Which I'm guessing none of us should be surprised, but at least the CEO should have the balls to say it.
Not sure what he means by waiting for the next generation of customers. I can imagine that in every generation since the 60s, there have been plenty of people who aspire to own a Porsche, but didn't necessarily have the means. And it's the younger (and less well-off) people who are more likely to use a sports car to its potential (autocrossing, circuit racing, etc). Again, I'd guess the CEO is saying he wants the brand to populated by a certain type of people: those in the upper crust.

Not a criticism of the company, but it's interesting to note how times have changed. This, from a 1988 issue of Car & Driver:
"Unquestionably, Porsche has undergone considerable internal turmoil. Production underwent drastic cuts, from more than 50000 cars a year to 32000. For the first time in twenty years, Porsche will not try to offer a low-priced entry model. And the company now says that it doesn't want production to exceed 40000 cars a year."