Relations between Porsche and Volkswagen are getting increasingly closer since the companies decided to create Touareg and Cayenne, which share the same platform and some mechanical components. Whether Porsche ever manages to control Volkswagen, what seem to be getting closer, since Germany is being taken to court over Volkswagen Law, the fact is Wolfsburg could easily give Stuttgart an entry level model. The candidate, according to the German magazine AutoBild, will be sixth generation Golf, which may share its platform with a new model from Porsche.
The new car, expected to be presented in 2012, will be able to defy BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 and the new generation of Mercedes-Benz entry-level cars, said to be more performance oriented. Would that be a bad idea for Porsche? Not if you consider BMW has been exploring cheaper segments with success, with 1-Series and Mini. Audi is already preparing A1 to enter the same car segment explored by Mini, while Alfa Romeo has recently presented Mi.To. Therefore, why should Porsche be out of this new and promising luxury niche? When we remember BMW has been considering bringing back the Isetta, maybe all premium brands should be already thinking the same way.
Porsche May Develop New Golf-Sized Entry Level Car
Porsche hatchback illustration from 2002 / Larson
Hot hatch is expected for 2012
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Comments (60)
4rings
@ "greeacre"
Actually, Lamborghini already did make an suv. Over 20 years ago
June 10, 2008 6:02 pm
Mohameds7s
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!! NO NO PLEASE PLEASE PORSCHE DONT DO THAT !!! please stick to ur sports cars !! its already tricky enough maintaining the Porsche image as it is with the Panamera coming up. Porsche was always a SPORTS CAR !! and it was ok with the Cayenne and i guess it will be ok with the Panamera, but it will NOT be OK with a silly little porsche hatchback !! that will ruin everything !!
June 8, 2008 6:32 pm
BabyMilo
i kinda agree with you but aparently porsche are trying to expand their brand...
June 8, 2008 10:10 pm
Kieranieo
i agree, who in the right mind would think it was a good idea to build that?
June 13, 2008 7:27 pm
fatter1
yeah apprently its called da carry-enne
w16 engine producing a mere 402BHP
and its one wheel drive my brother dat s*** be poppin man
June 8, 2008 6:50 pm
gt500
yhh sumink bout onli da front left wheel needs da power cos da passengers mainly sit on da right
June 8, 2008 6:53 pm
fatter1
yeahh and on left hand drive models da power can go 2 da back window for optimum force on rough terrain such as cheshire
June 8, 2008 6:56 pm
fatter1
yeahh 99% of da power goes der n da 1% goes 2 da air conditioning unit for max coolness
June 8, 2008 7:00 pm
fatter1
yeahh i no ryt?
402bhp in such an engine wud b a threat to even the donkey paced bugatti veyron
June 8, 2008 7:03 pm
fatter1
i noo dey had 2 limit da top speed so it dsnt crack da sound barrier/window glass
June 8, 2008 7:08 pm
fatter1
exactly wot i was thinkin
n probably a supercharger 2 force the air into the cabin
add sme nitrous 2 da exquation n u cud have da coolest passengers in da wrld
perhaps even tiff needell or dare i say tom ford?
June 8, 2008 7:10 pm
thamzn
Porsche knows they have to be in this segment to keep alive. Even Bentley and Bugatti are said to be working on cheaper models.
June 8, 2008 6:49 pm
FastLane
If they want to build a cheaper car, then why dont they build something that slots right under Panamera.. that's the only way they should be going.
June 8, 2008 6:59 pm
GranTurismo
Exactly!!! Otherwise they'll end up like Ferrari, under FIAT ownership(Yuck!!!).
June 9, 2008 1:50 am
porschekrazii
wtF? hell noo, all this time i've been anticipitating that porsche is coming up with sth to beat the gt-r..but noooo..this is disappointing mang
June 8, 2008 10:29 pm
Xanavi23
While people might not like this because of possibly bringing down the Prestige associated with Porsche by a bit. This however is not a stupid move...im not sure Porsche should make a car like this unless its at least as fast as a 135i(No Lower models) but if Porsche does in fact make one...the car is gonna sell like pancakes, it will make Porsche so much damn money.
June 8, 2008 10:31 pm
catchmyshadow
(Auto)Bild in D is like the Sun in the UK.
I doubt that rumor. A few years back they also said, a SUV below the Cayenne, named Roxster, will enter the market soon and it won`t! Instead, the next cayenne will be lighter and less bulky. Autobild isn`t a very reliable source. it?s all about sensation and scandalous stuff.
June 8, 2008 10:43 pm
sub39h
the fact that BMW, Audi and Merc have entry level cars is somewhat irrelevant. Porsche is a supercar manufacturer and i think building a car like that will devalue their brand. i think the high-ups know this, and the only reason they would consider it is if they are bound by the new EU law stating that car manufacturers must average 130g/km CO2. without a car like this, Porsche may struggle to reach that target
June 8, 2008 11:22 pm
Xanavi23
the Base Cayenne V6 is by no means a Supercar. Porsche used to be a performance sportscar company but not anymore(i LOVE Porsche; Honesty) however that changed with the introduction of the Cayenne Base Models.
June 9, 2008 12:24 am
sub39h
ok point taken. in my mind i don't count any of the Cayennes as supercars, and i don't think the Panamera will be one either. change "supercar" for "high end car". and something like a Golf isn't high end, irrespective of what badge is on the front.
June 9, 2008 11:06 am
out4ride
You guys say all these things how bad it will be for Porsche but in fact I think all of you want this to happen because it will be your first porsche you might afford :)
June 8, 2008 11:33 pm
samuelzeus
Oh... that's a bit too good for a car company ignoring the reasons why they have been successful. I think you'll lose much of your interest on Porsche by 2012.
June 9, 2008 6:10 am
electra
please Porsche, go ahead with the project so that i can afford a porsche at 2012...:-)
June 9, 2008 1:44 am
benzboy
I used to think that I would work hard and save my money and i would one day be able to buy a mercedes SL and I did, now look at MB they have brought out so many new models and less expensive derivatives of my car, that I do not feel so fortunate and that the brand has been cheapened, Porsche take a page from MB, thats all I am saying
June 9, 2008 3:32 am
M!
i think Porsche is doing well enough that they do not need to 'stay alive' by getting into this segment. apparently they are one of the most profitable manufacturers.
June 9, 2008 4:07 am
ceven
I agree, they're well off financially.
The motivation may be something different then, though probably still about money.
June 9, 2008 9:41 am
motoriety27
this is rubbish. they've already stretched their product range by introducing the Cayenne and the upcoming Panamera. if this bit of news is true, then they'll be diluting their brand image even more. they don't need to compete in every single market segment to stay at the top!
June 9, 2008 5:39 am
e36mmm
very wrong move. if it happens, i will lose my faith in porsche. hope its not true.
June 9, 2008 7:44 am
muellr
so that'l be a audi TT with 911 front end, well i guess people get used to it!guess it is a better starting point than the ugliest SUV release of the last decade ..
June 9, 2008 1:25 pm
thamzn
I'm not convinced that making lots of money and keeping your company off the liquidation list devalues your brand. Many thought this would happen when the Cayenne was launched. The opposite did in fact, happen. 1 Series and A3 are premium cars and if Porsche can compete at 135i/ S3/ RS 3 level, then I see no issue with it. WCF has reported before about a smaller Veyron; everyone is downsizing because fuel price, CO2 emissions, price etc. We are to see smaller Bentleys and Rolls Royces soon too.
June 9, 2008 2:39 pm
From a business point of view this makes good sense to enter the luxury compact market.
Let's face it...alot of people want a Porsche in their drive way, but are restrained by the price tag or have no place in their lifestyle for a sports car or a SUV.
But in the long run it will only dilute the Porsche brand. Remember the Porsche 924 didn't do too much to enhance the Porsche brand back in the 80's....but it sure did bring a lot of people to the dealerships that otherwise would not have even dreamed of coming into a Porsche dealership.
June 9, 2008 4:24 pm
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