Rumors of a sub-Boxster Porsche roadster appear to be off again. “Another model line is not something we are concentrating on at the moment . . . my gut feeling is that we do not need one,” Porsche S&M boss Klaus Berning tells the Telegraph (via MotorAuthority). Rumors had centered around VW’s Bluesport roadster concept, which is likely to go into production as both VW and Audi-branded sports cars. That could have spelled a brutal brand dilution for Porsche, but independent development isn’t exactly a great option either, considering Porsche’s tenuous financial status. Weirdly, Berning does admit that it “could be possible to have a four-cylinder again in a 911 but it would be a Porsche four-cylinder. The 911 is the core of the brand and it follows different rules to the rest of the brand models.”
Porsche S&M boss
???
I don’t know how much of a market there is for this kind of car.
Don’t take me wrong, I love my MR2 Spyder, but it was by most measures a sales failure.
The Solstice and Sky were hot for a few months and then fizzled.
The Miata does the small roadster thing far too well, and there just isn’t much demand.
When will Porsche finally decide to use one of the Subaru family of flat 4’s in a car? A return to the 356 or 914 would be great 2400-2700lbs and 295lb/ft of torque at 4k rpm would be a FUN FUN RIDE. Maybe evoke a bit of the reckless Porsche of the past!
The Solstice and Sky fizzled because they were crap compared to the Miata, S2000 and MR2 Spyder.
@BlueBrat
No argument, the GM twins are/were built very poorly. The Spyder (2000-2005) wasn’t offered at the same time as the Solstice (2006+). IMHO, the S2000 is more in-line with the GXP varieties, price- and performance-wise.
Both the Spyder and the GM twins were aimed squarely at the Miata, and for good reason. I think both attempts were admirable, especially when you compare them to the older Miatas which were the benchmarks (Spyder the 90-97 NA Miata, the Solstice the 99-05 NB). Mazda just stayed one step ahead.
I find it odd how Porsche fans get all in a twist anytime platform or component sharing with VW is brought up, even though such sharing is at the very roots of Porsche.
The 914 and 928 both showed a way forward for Porsche, but the company instead went for the retro thing. I suspect that diehard 911 fans are aging and dying off at about the same rate as diehard Harley fans.
Finally, what is it with the veneration of “gut feel” as a business planning methodology?
I agree with Klaus Berning. With Porsche’s core profit generating units, banking and SUV’s, in decline and the imminent release of the Porsche Prius, not to mention the new fashion line, they just can’t afford to spread themselves too thin concentrating on enthusiast vehicles at this time.
Brutal brand dilution?
The Cayenne is the most brutal example of brand dilution, yet it was a success (unsure if it still is, though). You could argue that it simply extended the brand to include more people, but that’s kind of a stretch considering it’s an SUV.
And what about the Panamera? Porsche appears to be redefining the brand, probably out of of survival instincts.
The Boxster and Cayman were natural extensions of the brand, but these other autos bastardize it. It really isn’t all about the brand as a static idea anymore.
Hell, look at what Hyundai has pulled off in 15 years.
A 4-cylinder 911? Yes please. Make mine the size of a 964 and co-developed with Subaru.
I’m sorry, I really try not to get mad or be mean…
But are you MAD???
Porsche + Subaru???
thats like saying “Hey, lets get Ferrari and Chevy together! Ya know – a nice ol’ big block fer dem italanos”
I’m gonna guess you’re not exactly a big Porsche enthusiast…?
If Porsche uses a 4 cylinder in the ‘356’, it’ll be from VW/Audi.
If Porsche uses a 4 cylinder for the 911, their flagship, it’ll be their very own.
Oh great, the 914, previous VW Porsche collaboration above was such a great success. Damn thing holds the distinction of being the only car I’ve ever owned that caught fire, while driving through town. Looked in the mirror and saw a faint plume of smoke rising from the rear deck vent. Pulled over, only a 50 yard dash into the nearest business to grab a fire extinguisher off the wall saved the car. Then, to add insult to injury, after towing it home, the right front torsion bar snapped when I pushed it into the driveway.
Should have let it burn.
Much later, found out about the 914 engine fire recall, fuel lines run across the top of the battery or something of that nature. Have been a skeptic of ‘German engineering’ ever since.
And no car owned since has been without a fire extinguisher on board.
DanyloS :
June 26th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
When will Porsche finally decide to use one of the Subaru family of flat 4’s in a car? A return to the 356 or 914 would be great 2400-2700lbs and 295lb/ft of torque at 4k rpm would be a FUN FUN RIDE. Maybe evoke a bit of the reckless Porsche of the past!
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I think the question should be: why buy VW and not Subaru?
I mean, Porsche wanted to enter the more economical arena. Subaru looks more inline with Porsche’s layout and identity.
mocktard:”The Solstice and Sky were hot for a few months and then fizzled.”
Not to get all snopes-y, but no. Here’s what really happened:
Miata Solstice Sky
2008 10,977 10,739 9,162
2007 15,075 16,779 11,263
2006 16,897 19,710 8,671
2005 9,801 5,445
2004 9,356
Bottom line: Solstice/Sky never fizzled, nor did they cut into Miata’s sales. If anything, the presence of the new competition ignited interest in the segment and benefited Miata.
Oh Lord, please. My boss had a 914 back in the 70’s. Sometimes I’d drive it to make deliveries. It was awesome. I’d love to see VW or Porsche make something simliar again. Lift-off roof, something close to Miata price…
There never was a 4-cylinder 911. It was called the 912.
I loved my 914, especially when I upgraded the engine (2 liter high-compression pistons/sleeves, dual Weber downdraft carb, extractor exhaust, etc) It was a fun little beast, at least until it rotted away…
The other P-car I’ve ever owned was a 912 (the 4cyl 911) with a Sportomatic. I wish I still had that one.
That baby Boxter line drawing looks like a Fiat X1/9 from the side:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_X1/9
-ted
For what it’s worth, the MR2 had a great driving position for a tall guy like myself, and I thought it was…well, not attractive, but interesting — but the interior was painfully cheap, and the gearing was very, very low, making you wish for a sixth gear on the freeway.
But yeah, the Solstice/Sky is terrible, just terrible, next to the Miata.
That baby Boxter line drawing looks like a Fiat X1/9 from the side
Isn’t the line drawing a Porsche 914?