VW CEO wants to boost Porsche vehicle sales: 3 new models planned

[EnI]

Martin Winterkorn (VW CEO) who will also take a position as Porsche Automobil Holding SE CEO in mid-September announced in an interview for German paper Manager Magazin he had plans to double Porsche car sales to 150,000 vehicles per year in 2012 or 2013.

That would be possible with severe model line expansion. Three new models are planned.

A sub-Boxster roadster is under serious consideration (analog to VW Blue Sport Concept), a sub-Cayenne SUV (Tiguan / Q5 brother), and an additional variant of Panamera.

Mr. Winterkorn also added Porsche would be further positioned as a segment leader in Innovations & Technical advantage.


He also said closer cooperation of VW & Suzuki (a joint-venture, or small stake purchase was also possible due to Suzuki advantage & know-how in small-car platforms.

Source: AutoBild

 

[bmer]

I surely hope they won't make the same mistakes as Jaguar with their ambitious production volume expansion (especially the infamous X-Type).

 

[Deleted member 25]

I have a question, What will happen to Porsche R&D wich is considered to be one of the best in the world and one of the most demanded ?

 

[Sayyaaf]

Humm .. a sub boxter .. a panamera variant ... nice. lol I heard the Panny variant would feature same front same interior just a "different" rear ..

 

[Foxfire]

Or maybe just the logical successor to the 928 -> 2(3) door shortened Panamera.

 

[LaArtist]

All 3 sound like shit..maybe the panamera version is abit intersting..

How abt a new supercar..

??

 

[Giannis]

Porsche is going really mass market. I give it 95% possibility that Porsche will be ruined...

 

[Merc1]

Panamera Coupe and 4-seat convertible would be nice, but the other sounds iffy to me.

M

 

[Batoussai]

Crap... i sense another unique car brand being destroyed by profit seeking madness... This automobile industry conversion form being unique into product used by majority of the market in order to increase profits ruins the brand.

 

[NarutoRamen]

The only thing that sounds the interesting to me here is the sub Boxster variant. That I would love to see.

 

[Sunny]

Why all this prophecy of doom when VAG has done a good job running other specialty brands like Lamborghini or Bentley. And considering that VAG is headed by Porsche family, I presume it will be even more special treatment.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Why all this prophecy of doom when VAG has done a good job running other specialty brands like Lamborghini or Bentley. And considering that VAG is headed by Porsche family, I presume it will be even more special treatment.

In my own little world, this is the reason: Because of how this whole takeover has gone. All the legal drama, all the personal drama, and all the business drama is enough to give anyone a headache. Bentley and Lambo weren't cutting it on their own and needed help, but Porsche isn't in need of help. Porsche is known (to me, formerly known) as an enthusiast brand and besides the GTI family of cars VAG isn't the most "enthusiastic" of car companies out there.

Of course, that is my reason, but then again I'm not one of the "Doom and Gloom" prophesier.

 

[Gullwing]

The only thing that sounds the interesting to me here is the sub Boxster variant. That I would love to see.

Yes it could be done right. Simple car, engine transmission two seats...
Forget lux features just make it like the 50s Speedsters. It wont take from the boxter even if it has better performance since it wont be something many will want to drive everyday.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Yes it could be done right. Simple car, engine transmission two seats...
Forget lux features just make it like the 50s Speedsters. It wont take from the boxter even if it has better performance since it wont be something many will want to drive everyday.

Yep, it would like a track attack car and I'm sure the folks who love the Elise will want to give this a shot as well. Of course, a person like me might drive it everyday.

 

[EnI]

Yes it could be done right. Simple car, engine transmission two seats...
Forget lux features just make it like the 50s Speedsters. It wont take from the boxter even if it has better performance since it wont be something many will want to drive everyday.

The problem: sub-Boxster is OK ... But unfortunately to make the car profitable there will be a lot of "brothers" ... VW Roadster (Blue Sport Concept), Audi R4, perhaps even Seat (remember tango Concept), and even a possible mini-Lambo ... That's the fear that's present right now ...

Just like Porsche small-SUV will be of the same family as Q5 / Tiguan / Skoda Yeti etc. And next Cayenne sharing some Tuareg parts etc.

Etc ...

Instead of Porsche dictating the tempo & vision, VW will now dictated tempio & vision for the Porsche - since Winterkorn's (Audi & VW man - Piech's protege; ex- Audi CEO, now VW CEO, soon also PAH CEO) & Wiedeking's (ex-Porsche CEO) visions of Porsche development were different. One was more Porsche-centered, the other more VW-centered.

Sure VW will use Porsche brand & its R&D & tech know-how fame to promote other brands as well: eg. "This VW / Seat / Audi / Skoda vehicle is using Porsche-developed tech & innovation".

Yet the tech won't be exclusive to Porsche anymore ... It will be shared across VW family - sure the exclusivity will last a year or two after the launch, but then it will certainly spread around the VAG family.

So, what will be the point of buying a Porsche when you can get the same tech in eg. Audi or Seat?

VAG will have to be very cautious dealing with Porsce brand ... And I wonder how will the losing independence will affect Porsche image - since Porsche have always promoted their independence & tech+innovations supremacy.

 

[NarutoRamen]

So, what will be the point of buying a Porsche when you can get the same tech in eg. Audi or Seat?

While I agree with most of what you said, I do have an answer for this question. And the answer is that the Porsche car will always be faster.

 

[Merc1]

An no Seat or Audi will drive like a Porsche. People don't buy Porsches per say for their technology either. Porsche is for driving, innovation and style, not just tech/innovation. What a spin.


M

 

[EnI]

^

What spin? Is it really so hard for you to understand that. ???

If the same tech from Porsche will be used in other VAG brands as well that won't be due to pure PR reasons - but for enhancing the driving dynamics of eg. Audi or Seat ... to emulate Porsche driving dynamics more, don't you think

My question is: what will be eg. the difference between Audi R4, Porsche Roxster (sub-Boxter car), Seat Tango, and VW Roadster - if all the car will use same platform & Porsche developed tech????

What - only design & micro settings of suspension, steering, engines, gearbox etc?

I'm afraid Winterkorn will be too eager to spread Porsche solutions across the VAG model line - since that can help other brands but can hurt Porsche image.

 

[Merc1]

To try and imply that an Audi or a Porsche will be the equivalent to a Porsche or that a Porsche won't be worth buying just because of shared technology, is the spin. So what if an Audi or a Seat has some tech from Porsche? They already do anyways. Direct-injection, dual-clutch gearboxes they already share these things and Porsche was the one late to game on those. Sharing technology won't turn a TT in to a true Boxster competitor or killer on the track because there is only so much you can do with a Golf chassis.

My question is: what will be eg. the difference between Audi R4, Porsche Roxster (sub-Boxter car), Seat Tango, and VW Roadster - if all the car will use same platform & Porsche developed tech????

When and if it happens then that question will be valid.

Then again the answer is there now. Look at the VW Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne. The Porsche stomps the VW on the road and can follow it anywhere off road. The Porsche is clearly superior despite them sharing the same chassis and tech. Its the difference between a 7-Series and RR Ghost, same chassis/tech way different final development.


M

 

[EnI]

With Porsche tech I meant the tech that makes Porsche a Porsche - not some general tech.

I'm talking special engine & gearbox solutions, special suspension & chassis solutions etc.

Taking Porsche's tech advantage from them will be a HUGE mistake.

Regarding 7er vs Ghost: the situation is not the same ... since the technically more advanced car is giving its tech to a less technically advanced car of a brand with much higher brand image. RR can say they use advanced BMW tech, while BMW can brag their tech is used in RR - which was also the case in Silver Seraph.

While in Porsche case the donor is technically more advanced & having much more brand cache than VW, Audi & Seat combined.
So - what does Porsche get image wise with being a Porsche-tech donor to other VAG brands? Absolutely nothing.

I'm not saying that WILL definitely happen. But it may. And I really hope it won't.