LexFather

I have to say if this happens, I will only be interested in current and past 911s....

Can you image a VW-badged Panamera? What about a 911-based product from Wolfsburg? It could happen according to Porsche CEO Michael Macht. Autocar reports that Macht says, "Porsche needs to become a strong pillar of VW," and part of that means sharing platforms and components. The two companies have been on a rocky collision course towards merging for years, and now that the deal is all but done, the business of identifying synergies between the two companies is on.

Porsche apparently is not worried about diluting its brand image by sharing platforms with VW, even if that includes the iconic 911. What they won't be sharing, however, is engines. Macht made it clear that "Engine development is a core value for Porsche." At the moment, the only Porsche model with an engine that wasn't developed in-house is the V6-powered Cayenne.

Putting aside your feelings about whether or not Porsche sharing its platforms with VW is a good idea, what are some positive results that can be imagined? A Panamera-based Phaeton? A 911-based Audi speedster? A Boxster-based production version of the VW Concept BlueSport?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...aspx?AR=244233

amdave

Porsche will be fine. They are unlikely to mess with what makes them great - the 911 is on my wish list forever.

JessePS

Should be interesting to see this happen

I8ABMR

Porsche got to cocky tried to take over Goliath and got squashed. This is the result. Great move by Volkswagon

IS-SV

I'll say no comment. I'm keeping a close eye on Porsche before I buy my next one.

NO1ZX6R

IMO this is nothing less than the beginning of the end. As stated above, if Porsche management hadn't overextended themselves (cash wise) trying to take over VW they wouldn't be in this position now. I can't imagine anything good coming from this; the Porsche crest is tarnished forever.

Byprodrive

iTrader: (1)

As for myself I am researching how to fix the design flaws in the original watercooled flat-6 engine so I can preserve & improve my Boxster S, the best sports car ever made

mmarshall

Two things. First, joint Porsche/VW platforms are nothing new.....it was actually the norm in the 40s and 50s. Second, even today, the Cayenne and Touraeg share a common platform, although they are, to an extent, different vehicles designed for different purposes....the Touraeg for versatility and off-road prowess; the Cayenne more for performance.

mmarshall

You can thank Big Brother and emission standards for the switch from air to liquid-cooling. Liquid cooling allows more even combustion temperatures in each cylinder and MUCH faster cold-start warm-ups.....both critical for low emissions. It also, of course, eliminates the possibility of exhaust gases and CO leaking into the cabin through the old air-heating systems.

IS-SV

Liquid cooling was also necessary to achieve the type of performance that Porsche needed to remain competitive in this class of cars. DOHC and all it's advantages work best with the cooling effectiveness of liquid cooling. Yes, the heaters and A/C systems of even the later air-cooled Porsches were crap by todays standards.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

VW/Audi fans =
Porsche purists =


I don't mind if VW starts using Porsche chassis as long as the cars don't look the same.