Hi all,
Following the Porsche link-up with V.A.G. I've just spotted this artist's impression of a small Porsche S.U.V. and reports suggest that a full scale mock-up has already been built!

What do you think?

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I don't really like the look but I don't know why. Of course I don't like any of the new SUV's. I think they're built too much for luxery and not enough for offroad. I know thats argueable but I'd much rather have an old truck that I can hit a tree with and not worry about it. A Porsche SUV I'd be seriously pissed if I hurt it off road but if it has 4wd I'd be taking it off road anyway. Have you heard any of the stats on the SUV???

 

From a business standpoint -Yes, I see why they need to. Porsche needs to find ways to broaden its product portfolio and market segment. A small SUV would do that. And with more concern about fuel economy, small means more market appeal, too. But it has among the best brand identities in the world and must be careful not to lose the "premium" and "engineered like no other" image its products have:::small can't mean cheap (which is what it means with Land Rovers now and that is hurting their image slightly).

From a owner/enthusiast standpoint, I don't like this. I'd prefer they focus on real sports/performance cars. For 40+ years the 911 series has been among the greatest in the world: sort of at the top of the non-exotic world of cars. It's not that easy to stay there that long and a company with other irons in the fire may not have the focus to stay there.
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What I would dearly love to see would be Porsche come out with a small SUV based on the 4-wheel drive Carrera 4 platform. Rear engined, it would be something other than another "me too" SUV. It would be unique, premium, and a pretty nifty vehicle, too.
(I imagine every 911 fanatic in the world will want to lynch me for this, but . . . there is my opinion.)

 

Hey Lee, your'e entitled to you opinion. My personal opinion is, yes I can see why they would want to build this small S.U.V., but maybe they should have built it instead of the Cayenne and then developed a new front engined small sports coupe to fill the void left by the 968.

944Dream, I don't have any stats on this SUV, but it is reported that they would possibly adapt body underpinnings or even a four wheel drive transmission from the V.A.G. parts bins. The engine however would not be any of the current Porsche engines as neither the Boxster's flat six nor the Cayenne's V8 would be suitable, & since Porsche would probably not develop a new engine just for one model, they may use the Cayenne/Touareg V6 or other V.A.G. engine.

 

what drivetrain?

 

I would have preferred if Porsche had remained pure to sports cars: just the 911 and Boxster series and the occasional tour de force like the Carrera GT.

But I suppose the SUVs and so forth are why their profit margins are so large - THEY are buying a stake in VW--sort of always thought it would be the other way around.

Lee: interesting idea about the 911 4S based SUV. A rear engine would give it some unique qualities, but mostly I agree with your "me too" point. Does the world really need another SUV, big or small, just like all the others. Saw a nice one at a light this morning and had to look to tell what it was. At first I thought it was a BMW, but no, a Hyundai!!! A premium iage company has a problem when you can't instantly tell their products from entry-level units.

 

1st i was gonna say i like it... but looking closer at the picture... its just a 3 door VW golf on higher suspension (about the looks ) ... doesnt have the Porsche feel at all in it.

It would be nice for a VW suv though.

Jin