Nin009

Maybe I'm a bit cynical, but it sounds to me like a bit of retribution. Mess with the bull get the horns.

By axing Porsche's most profitable vehicle they are ensuring Porsche won't have the means to recover financially. It's always about money. The product overlap argument is weak. You simply don't walk away from profit.

The Panamera is just ugly and a waste of resources. That was a mercy kill.

musicalVTEC

I think this is a good direction for Porsche. As much as it was cool that they were so successful as an independent company, having VW as a parent company will allow them to return to their roots, making only sports cars. As for an entry-level Porsche, the collaboration with VW on the 914 and the 924/944 worked out pretty well, I would say. The upmarket shift of particular models often leads to room for an entry-level car, ala BMW 1-series.

TheDonEffect

It makes a lot more sense for porsche to offer an affordable sportscar vs. an upscale luxury sedan or SUV. All three could dilute the brand, but the suv and sedan will dilute its heritage whereas the cheap sportscar will dilute its exclusivity.
I bet that the entry level sportscar will probably be shared somewhere in the VW or Audi range since audi still doesn't have a true Z4/SLK fighter aside from the TT which doesn't exactly compete directly for the same customers.

OverBooster

That is a LONG time from now. A lot can change between now and then. Until then, this article is really meaningless.

rockville

I think it's a good long term idea. Consider all the people who said GM was cannibalizing their own sales buy having Pontiac compete with Chevy etc. How is this different? Does it really make sense to have Audi, VW and Porsche all selling the same SUV? What ends up happening is Audi has to compete with Porsche which is often sold out of the same show room or just across the street. Instead why not just keep those sales with Audi? Yes, it will me less total volume but if the average selling price is good, why not.

Also, I don't think the Porsche SUV remained a profit center. I think over time it dropped in profit to the point where it really wasn't helping.

TheDonEffect

True, but it also takes a very long time to design a replacement. Correct me if I'm wrong, but once the new model hits the market, the research and discussions begin soon after on its replacement.

ZDan

Sounds good to me.
Porsche have lost their way, developing ever bigger/heavier NON sports cars. Pity it's taken VW to put them back on the straight and narrow.

Here's to future Porsches that are more Lotus Elise than S-class Mercedes (or bloated SUV).

erik

So you're telling me the Boxster, Cayman, and all the 911 variants have suffered because Porsche built a SUV and a sedan? This is pretty narrow minded thinking. The SUV was built with the express purpose as giving Porsche another revenue stream so they could keep building limited 911s (at least that's how I read the story).

And that Panamera may not be beautiful (and I'll wait for my final eval until I see one in person), but as a person with 2 boys under 3, I can see me in one of those in a few years before I see myself in a 911. So the Panamera has some purpose, but I can see why VW would kill it.

FrostyWinters

Aw damn! I hate VWs and anything related to VW Group. Their cars SUCK!

Guess I'll be picking up a used P car years down the road.

ZDan

The less experience they have with designing/engineering smaller/lighter-weight cars, the worse they will be at it.

Engineering efforts on bloated luxury sedans and sport utilities could have been expended on product more true to Porsche's roots.

[QUOTE]And that Panamera may not be beautiful (and I'll wait for my final eval until I see one in person), but as a person with 2 boys under 3, I can see me in one of those in a few years before I see myself in a 911.