Porsche prepping Panamera based 928 Successor?

New Porsche 928 Coupe computer rendering / Lehmann Photo-Syndication

By Thami Masemola
April 22, 2009 5:01 PM
Filed Under: Artist Renderings, German, Porsche, Rumours

A number of automakers from around the world are currently working on smaller models of existing cars in order to counter the downward spiraling of car sales. Porsche may be one of these after rumours of a smaller car, a sort of hark back to the old 928, based on the new Panamera surfaced.

Autocar says a senior source at Porsche told the publication that a 3-door GT would be "very nice". However such a car is still a very long way off; the Board has not even approved it.

A lot of money was sunk into the development of the Panamera and apparently the brains behind the 3-door car would like to see the company dollar stretched even further to release economies of scale. Porsche is not the biggest automaker in the world, yet the size of its investment in the Panamera could be the envy of many. Recouping that investment might require a lot more than Panamera sales.

Although cars like the Mercedes-Benz CL AMGs and Bentley Continental GTs have demonstrated a growing market for high-performance GT cars, Zuffenhausen has not taken advantage. Porsche has made a few gambles that paid off in the past, most notably the Cayenne. A 928 revival could be one of them. Or it could become a sales disappointment just like it was when first introduced in 1977.

Note: Image above is an artist rendering of a 3-door Porsche GT first published May 31, 2007.

Source: autocar

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Tags: Porsche 928, Porsche Panamera, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche GT Coupe

Comments

Renegade

April 22, 2009 7:28 PM

Ok Porsche, u have the chance of making a good looking sports car that doesn't look like like a Beetle(that's 911's job) don't screw it up.

AG4

April 22, 2009 7:35 PM

Porsche will probably throw in some styling elements from the original 928.

alessandro

April 22, 2009 7:38 PM

New 928 can heal the loss which will be caused by Panamera.

sub39h

April 22, 2009 7:44 PM

what the hell? the 911 is a perfectly acceptable grand tourer. it's got a fair amount of load space if you include the back seats, and it's quick and quiet as well.

Renegade

April 22, 2009 8:08 PM

Umm, not really what GT should be, but Porsche can adopt a new design language and keep the design of the 911 as a timeless icon, like the Mustang, Mini, Challenger, Corvette etc.

Edited by user on April 22, 2009 at 8:14 PM

dbehmoaras

April 23, 2009 5:13 AM

The 911 is not a GT, nor should it be. In fact, I'm pretty sure Porsche would take that as an insult. There really is not that much space, and will you be able to fit your golf clubs in the back seat without ruining the bench because it won't go under the hood (chuckles)? Fit? Maybe. Without ruining the seat? No.

9TNine

April 22, 2009 8:00 PM

Not sure I really liked the styling of the Cayenne nor the Cayman - kinda ugly.

Hope they DO better with their 928...

Edited by user on April 22, 2009 at 8:01 PM

Joe_Limon

April 22, 2009 8:08 PM

Does Porsche need another 911 look alike? with 14 model varients of 911, another 2 cayman's and arguably 2 more boxsters. I think they have already filled their quota for that design! Something new please? Or are the only new things that Porsche can come up with are suv shaped 911's and hunchback 911's?

N20_Purge

April 22, 2009 8:17 PM

Not bad, but why such a loooong front? I understand the engine will probs be up front, but still....

scratchy996

April 23, 2009 1:25 AM

it's just a stretched 911 , this is how the new 928 should look like : http://media.photobucket.com/image/new%20928/mikegordony/new928.jpg

Beetle

April 22, 2009 8:42 PM

The 928 was in the right era , this would be abit over the top these days.

GRAVE

April 22, 2009 8:57 PM

The bonet is too long which makes the car looks ugly!

catchmyshadow

April 22, 2009 9:55 PM

it is just a speculation, but the rear could look more dynamic than the panamera´s. as a 2-door model they wouldn`t have to focus on the space in the back that much like they did on the panamera. this one would compete against the 6-Series, DB9, Bentley Continental GT, Mercedes CL, Maserati GT etc. could be a cracker.

Edited by user on April 22, 2009 at 10:02 PM

dbehmoaras

April 22, 2009 10:57 PM

It's cool, I guess, but it interferes too much with the 911. If they do decide to make it convertible, which they should, then the only way to really be different from the 911 would be to remove the back seat. Let's face it, the 911 back seat is purely ornamental anyway. Moreover, the back seat makes it seem that it's a GT, which it really isn't. In fact that's the problem with the 911. It's confued about it's identity. Is it a GT or a proper supercar or a roadster? Without the backseat it will be more clear as to what it really is. This might sound crazy, but the engine should be where the back seat normally is. Also, without the back seat you can remove the Beetle styling that plagues the 911.

politz

April 22, 2009 11:21 PM

...and turn it into a 370z, right?

scratchy996

April 23, 2009 1:19 AM

@ dbehmoaras "remove the Beetle styling that plagues the 911. " - are you crazy ? the beetle styling and the engine at the back are the whole point of the car.

dbehmoaras

April 23, 2009 5:09 AM

Nevertheless, it looks too much like a Beetle. The coupe looks too much like a hatchback, without it being one, because the engine is their. The weight of the engine in the back may be good at the light, but when cornering is when things get tricky because the weight of the car isn't balanced. I suppose that can be compensated for with AWD, which they have done rather well. I think I mispoke: I don't mind the engine in the back, and I think they've done a great job to make it work. But it's too much in the back. That's why get rid of the rear seats. As I said, they're their for show anyway. There will be room for a bigger engine, yet you won't need head room so it'll look more like a roadster (don't even try to bring up the Boxster, because it's clearly in a different class until it decides it want's 400bhp). Then you have to think in terms of Porsche marketing. If these changes are not made, the 928 will be a 911 with an even fatter butt. Unless you are Sir-Mix-A-Lot, I wouldn't think that's what you want.

@politz: Yeah a 370z, like the F430 is a 370z, or a Gallardo is a 370z, or a V8 Vantage is a 370z. Just because a car has two doors and two seats, doesn't mean it's a 370z.

scratchy996

April 23, 2009 11:25 AM

it looks like a beetle because it's supposed to look like a beetle.

changing the 911 is just stupid, do you have any idea how many fans this car has ? people are crazy about it just because of the "flaws" it has. the rear engine give it character and a unique handling no other car has. if you can't drive it then buy something else , but stop whining about the 911.

i own a 996 C2 and i would never change it for a mid engined car. the back seats are fine and they get bigger in the 998 model.

politz

April 22, 2009 11:30 PM

Hey, a 3-door GT? Groundbreaking. In my opinion, that is exactly what the Panamera project should have been about first place. A coupe is the ideal shape if you are a Porsche owner and need more refinement and a back seat for eventual passengers (or just to state that you are all grown up); if it is real space and utility you need, go for the Cayenne. Never thought there was an actual spot for a sedan (no four-door-coupe shiz to me) in the current Porsche lineup, but hey, there we have it. I really see that working... I really do believe that this could be a hit in the premium car segment, actually pushing the Porsche brand even more towards the luxury brand spectrum rather than leaning towards the 'niche sports cars maker' image. This car could even become the first actual 'bling mobile' from Porsche - you know, that ostentational kind of car embraced by hip hop stars, Paris Hilton wannabes and even maybe Paris herself. Watch out, Continental.

Triniboy

April 22, 2009 11:31 PM

Why is the bonnet elongated??? This car looks American...

scratchy996

April 23, 2009 1:21 AM

if you look closely , the picture is a stretched 911.

THERENAISSANCEMAN

April 22, 2009 11:33 PM

all we're looking at here is a S T R E C H E D 997 . is this production venture really that necessary , or does Porsche would very much like to repeat history ?

Edited by user on April 22, 2009 at 11:34 PM

THERENAISSANCEMAN

April 22, 2009 11:35 PM

all we're looking at here is a S T R E C H E D 997 . is this production venture really that necessary , or Porsche would very much like to repeat history ?

politz

April 22, 2009 11:35 PM

PS: That is one lame rendering.

thamzn

April 22, 2009 11:48 PM

I think the rendering is pretty good as an outline of what we might see. Renderings aren't supposed to replace the car's designers, they are just impressions to give us an idea.

joshg_5

April 23, 2009 12:05 AM

Yes. Just Yes....

I've always had a love for the 928. My old man had a 1995 928 GTS. What a car!

sub39h, the 911 is FAR from a Grand Tourer. I would hardly define it as a 2+2, which is really what a GT should be. It's almost insulting the label the 911 as a GT actually. That car has worked so hard to be known as the purist of sports cars.

**This photo looks disproportional because its a Photo shopped picture of the front on a Panamera and the back of a 911.**

archytype

April 23, 2009 12:42 AM

anyone else see an ultra-long hood that is remininscent of old Jag coupes. It's a phallic symbol.

porschecarreragtmay6

April 23, 2009 12:54 AM

A new 928 woiuld be cool, the 928/944 used to be Porsche's fastest road going vehicle with a top speed around 170MPH. This will probably do about 180, the reason the Cayman didn't go that fast is beacuse then it would be faster than the 911. Same will go for this.

alex_w115

April 23, 2009 3:01 AM

just speculating here: The cayman/ boxster is getting the better over a 911 in overall dynamics. That shouldn't happen to the 911, so the next boxster/cayman will (probably) get 4-cilinder engines. Then the next 911 could be flat6 mid-engined, improving its ability. But then the rear seats will have to go, leaving room in the line-up for a 928 style GT.

dbehmoaras

April 23, 2009 5:10 AM

100% agreed.

scratchy996

April 23, 2009 11:12 AM

911 will never be a mid engine car, whats the point of it then ? there are enough mid engine sorts cars in the world, 911 is original and that's why it's so successful.

fatcalip

April 23, 2009 11:59 AM

928 is back

mc959

April 23, 2009 12:07 PM

@ dbehmoaras

That's what i love about the 911, you can have a car for what you want, you need too cross Europe/America just take a Carrera4S/Cabriolet or Targa, you want to go on track take the gt2/gt3 and those have only 2 seats. You want both take a Carrera2S with a powerkit witch bring the car at above 400hp. and remember those are Porsche-hp, so they count for more. example: GT3 RS almost as fast as F430 Scuderia with 100hp less.

Prince_Ash

April 23, 2009 3:58 PM

i like the look, hopefully they wont change it much before release.

khlbt

April 24, 2009 3:52 AM

gosh...don't mean to sound prejudice at all but it looks like a midget with long legs lying down on wheels...LOL!

mantena

April 25, 2009 9:55 AM

The shape (geometry, proportion) on this car is ... perfect. If they could just make it like as on the picture...

seelowe61

April 26, 2009 9:32 PM

I think a fresh look at the 928 would be great. Hey other makers are going for the front engine 2 seat lay out,and they are doing just fine. I like what I see in this photo.