What the ? Porsche Cayenne, Panamera To Be Axed in VW Takeover...
Sep 1, 2009 | 12:05 PM
#1
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What the ? Porsche Cayenne, Panamera To Be Axed in VW Takeover... According to Edmunds -->> Article
SANTA MONICA, California — Get a good look at the Porsche Cayenne SUV. In the wake of the bizarre German corporate soap opera whose end will soon see the absorption of Porsche AG into the mighty Volkswagen Group, the controversial Cayenne — and even more astoundingly, the just-released Panamera four-door sport sedan — has no future after VW takes over.
Such is the report from Britain's Car magazine, which says a "massive U-turn in Porsche's product plan" resulting from the bitter VW boardroom triumph means Porsche will be forced to discontinue the Cayenne and Panamera after their product cycles are complete around seven years from now.
"VW Group has plenty of SUVs and saloons [sedans] — it doesn't need Porsche to build them," says the story, which should be music to the ears of Porsche faithful and critics who insist the tiny sports-carmaker did potentially irreparable harm to its brand by pasting the Porsche badge on heavyweight off-roaders and sedans.
But all isn't totally jolly for those hoping for complete restoration of Porsche's independence and uniqueness. Under the seemingly more brand-protecting plan of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piëch, Porsche will get back to making only sports cars — but probably will be sharing at least one platform with a future VW.
Piëch fought back viciously against the improbable but almost-executed plan of now-ousted Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking for tiny Porsche to grab control of VW. Now that he's won and Wiedeking — the architect of Porsche's off-message forays into massive SUVs and sedans — has been forced out, VW and its board, led by Piëch, will be calling the shots. And Piëch, an intensely product-focused engineer, seems to be intent on unraveling Wiedeking's initiatives to expand Porsche beyond two-door sports cars.
But that doesn't mean Porsche won't be expanding at all. Car reports that the brand might use a version of VW's in-development Modular Sportscar Structure (MSS) for a future midengine, entry-level model below the current Boxster/Cayman that would be the spiritual successor to the first Porsche, the 356. Volkswagen's vision of a lightweight and comparatively affordable midengine roadster already has been previewed with the Bluesport concept, although that car is based on the underpinnings of the current Polo.
Porsche also reportedly will launch a new high-dollar supercar to follow up the Carrera GT, although VW watchers already have speculated endlessly about how the company that also owns Lamborghini, Bugatti and Audi AG, all with vital products in the supercar segment, will position a future Porsche entry into that league.
The backfiring fiscal overreach that almost brought VW under Porsche control isn't without certain non-product consequences. Qatar Holding LLC had planned to buy a hefty portion of Porsche to help the sports-carmaker out of the debt hole it dug in its aborted attempt to control VW, but instead hooked into a complex investment arrangement that will see the Qatar Emirate become VW's third-largest shareholder with about 17 percent of the company. The Qatar investment also will hold about 10 percent of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Porsche's holding company.
Inside Line says: Only the future will tell if the new investors plan to be of the "active" persuasion. — Bill Visnic, Senior Editor, Edmunds' AutoObserver.com
Such is the report from Britain's Car magazine, which says a "massive U-turn in Porsche's product plan" resulting from the bitter VW boardroom triumph means Porsche will be forced to discontinue the Cayenne and Panamera after their product cycles are complete around seven years from now.
"VW Group has plenty of SUVs and saloons [sedans] — it doesn't need Porsche to build them," says the story, which should be music to the ears of Porsche faithful and critics who insist the tiny sports-carmaker did potentially irreparable harm to its brand by pasting the Porsche badge on heavyweight off-roaders and sedans.
But all isn't totally jolly for those hoping for complete restoration of Porsche's independence and uniqueness. Under the seemingly more brand-protecting plan of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piëch, Porsche will get back to making only sports cars — but probably will be sharing at least one platform with a future VW.
Piëch fought back viciously against the improbable but almost-executed plan of now-ousted Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking for tiny Porsche to grab control of VW. Now that he's won and Wiedeking — the architect of Porsche's off-message forays into massive SUVs and sedans — has been forced out, VW and its board, led by Piëch, will be calling the shots. And Piëch, an intensely product-focused engineer, seems to be intent on unraveling Wiedeking's initiatives to expand Porsche beyond two-door sports cars.
But that doesn't mean Porsche won't be expanding at all. Car reports that the brand might use a version of VW's in-development Modular Sportscar Structure (MSS) for a future midengine, entry-level model below the current Boxster/Cayman that would be the spiritual successor to the first Porsche, the 356. Volkswagen's vision of a lightweight and comparatively affordable midengine roadster already has been previewed with the Bluesport concept, although that car is based on the underpinnings of the current Polo.
Porsche also reportedly will launch a new high-dollar supercar to follow up the Carrera GT, although VW watchers already have speculated endlessly about how the company that also owns Lamborghini, Bugatti and Audi AG, all with vital products in the supercar segment, will position a future Porsche entry into that league.
The backfiring fiscal overreach that almost brought VW under Porsche control isn't without certain non-product consequences. Qatar Holding LLC had planned to buy a hefty portion of Porsche to help the sports-carmaker out of the debt hole it dug in its aborted attempt to control VW, but instead hooked into a complex investment arrangement that will see the Qatar Emirate become VW's third-largest shareholder with about 17 percent of the company. The Qatar investment also will hold about 10 percent of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Porsche's holding company.
Inside Line says: Only the future will tell if the new investors plan to be of the "active" persuasion. — Bill Visnic, Senior Editor, Edmunds' AutoObserver.com
Sep 1, 2009 | 12:11 PM
#3
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,926
From: Houston, TX
Absolutely idiotic, especially b/c of the fact that the Cayenne accounts for so much of Porsches sales in the US. If Porsche doesn't make the Cayenne, I'm sure not switching over to a Toureg or Q7, I'm going over to the dark side and getting an X5M.
F**k this idea VW!! Sorry I loves me the Cayenne GTS.
EDIT: After thinking about this, its got to be BS.
F**k this idea VW!! Sorry I loves me the Cayenne GTS.
EDIT: After thinking about this, its got to be BS.
Sep 1, 2009 | 12:14 PM
#5
Seriously. Change it.
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,505
From: Sonoma, CA
Core competency. Stick with it. The Cayenne is nice, however, to me Porsche = sports cars. They should stick to making great sports cars and another supercar. Leave the SUV's and sedans to other companies.
Sep 1, 2009 | 12:17 PM
#6
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Posts: 6,926
From: Houston, TX
I want a Porsche super car more so than most (though wouldn't be able to afford it), and as many of you know I'm a total Pcar fanatic. Anyone who has driven a Cayenne will know how great those things are. For guys like say my pops, who've had sports cars all there lives and now want something thats comfortable, fun, and can still tow your fishing boat, the Cayenne is a great DD.
Sep 1, 2009 | 12:20 PM
#8
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Posts: 5,659
From: Plano, TX
Hmm... Going on what BigE said, Porsche should stick to sports cars. That being said, the high dollar VW's have a history of not selling well in the US (W12 Phaeton, V10 Touareg). Slap a VW badge on a Cayanne and it's not going to get 1/2 the sales as it did as Porsche. Something else is going to have to be done about branding if they want luxury VW's to sell.
Sep 1, 2009 | 12:35 PM
#9
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Posts: 1,265
I welcome it, especially considering if I drive a gt3 in the future - would appreciate not having to see a badge-buddy on every driveway or soccer practice. (No offense Cayenne drivers
)
Sep 1, 2009 | 12:39 PM
#10
Seriously. Change it.
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,505
From: Sonoma, CA
If Porsche wants to expand its brand, how about getting back to its roots and creating the ultimate lightweight roadster. Something that makes the Boxster look large. Produce a real competitor for the Elise but in true convertible form. Just a thought......