Porsche Still Considering Entry Level Model

2009 Porsche Boxster

By Thami Masemola
June 15, 2009 8:38 PM
Filed Under: German, Porsche, Rumours

Here's a rumour: Porsche wants to get in on the Mazda MX-5 act. According to a report by Automobilwoche, Porsche is still mulling over a possible entry level to come in at below the Boxster range.

The Zuffenhausen-based company has denied it is working on such a car but one executive has admitted that should it happen such a hypothetical car would be priced at between €33,000 and €35,000. Porsche's stronger alliance with Volkswagen would be financially ideal to use as a launch pad for a mid-engine roadster. Platform cousins would include a possible Audi R4 and/ or something based on the VW BlueSport Concept car. VW could also use its massive buying power to reduce production costs.

Likely engines would include the popular 1.4 TSI with 125kW (170hp) and possibly the 93kW (125hp) turbo diesel. Seeing that we are firmly in the world of speculation at this point, why not throw in that 2.0 TSI into the mix as well and make over 155kW (211hp) in the process? The Lotus Elise could be a benchmark for this category of car which would weigh in at about 1,000kg (2,200lbs).

VW and Porsche will do well to put their current and future relationship under careful management before collaborating on too many projects. Otherwise a situation similar to the unhealthy family feud between Audi and VW on some models could arise.

Source: automobilwoche (sub req) via MA

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Tags: VW BlueSport, Audi R4

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Comments

ivanadrive

June 15, 2009 9:10 PM

As if an SUV wasn't enough, they released a diesel SUV. But now a 125hp diesel roadster? Talk about brand dilution. Maybe make it fwd too.

porschecarreragtmay6

June 16, 2009 11:03 PM

Porsche has already made the 914 in collaboration with VW. On the rear it said VW-PORSCHE. If Porsche makes a entry level model, it would probably get a name like "914", be very light weight and get a Turbocharged flat 6 making about 250HP. Not a Turbodiesel 170BHP engine. That is just not Porsche. Porsche has done this before. And it didn't work to well. Another idea is that Porsche will come back with the 928.. Read this.

2012 Entry-level Porsche range ( if possible)

2012 Porsche 928 - Turbo Flat-6 200 BHP

2012 Porsche 928 S - Turbo Flat-6 235 BHP

2012 Porsche 928 4 - Turbo Flat 6 200 BHP

2012 Porsche 928 4S - Turbo Flat 6 235 BHP

2012 Porsche 928 Turbo - Twin-Turbo Flat 6 300 BHP

If this were to happen thats what it would look like. Starting at $30,000, ranging up to $50,000.

Edited by user on June 16, 2009 at 11:04 PM

danat86

June 15, 2009 9:13 PM

this will be a complete blow to the brand, start with sports cars and end with cheap stuff. Next thing they will consider a family van.

dvangar

June 15, 2009 10:17 PM

http://wikicars.org/en/Porsche_Varrera

Airbag

June 15, 2009 9:24 PM

I would love for them to do this. Porsche precision, sound and feel at legal speeds.

Beautiful.

911fnatic

June 15, 2009 9:27 PM

**** sellouts, agh. Heard they were planning to build a 928 type car as well?

kimbo

June 15, 2009 9:33 PM

I think 928 is going to be Panamera based coupe.

wjaprep

June 15, 2009 10:57 PM

u hav now given me an instant dislike for the up and comming 928, thanks.

Scuderia-Paul

June 15, 2009 9:42 PM

If this were to happen it would undoubtedly bring in some serious revenue for Porsche. However the brand value would be eternally diluted and would likely cost it the image and reputation it has built up over the last 50yrs or so.

There is massive money to be made for manufacturers like Porsche in such a category but exclusivity has desirability should always remain a character of a top-end sportscar company. Imagine how much Ferrari could make if it put money ahead of brand value... There is a reason Luca di Montezemelo said they will not make a model below the F430.

scratchy996

June 15, 2009 10:05 PM

the 914 and 924 didn't hurt their image. as long as the car is good i see no problem. besides, a smaller car will help them with the CAFE regulations.

as for Ferrari building cars cheaper than the F430, that's what Maserati is for.

joshg_5

June 16, 2009 3:10 AM

People can't forget, it's all about the money! (refer to Cayenne...)

Brand value is only achieved and maintained to earn revenues from certain demographics.

sensei

June 15, 2009 10:04 PM

Return of the Porsche 924! Might not be too bad of an idea. After all, the BMW 1-Series hasn't killed BMW.

nederina

June 15, 2009 10:13 PM

that'll be a day when porsche build a front wheel drive car

Airbag

June 15, 2009 11:34 PM

Why on earth would you build a mid-engined, front wheel drive car?

nederina

June 16, 2009 3:55 AM

well i mean it doesn't get more entry level than building something that is based on a polo/golf.. front engine/front wheel drive

N20_Purge

June 15, 2009 11:36 PM

Entry Level Porsche? If so, it is likely to be based on those 2 cars in the article (Bluesport and R4) and that will make is a hit! More economical small MX5 rivalling sports cars are just what we need!

Emrys_Myrddin

June 16, 2009 12:31 AM

You talk about BMW's s1 and Mazda's Mx-5... but there's no comparison! Porsche is not a wide range brand, at least nowadays. They started with Cayenne, came up with a diesel and now this. Seriously Porsche, don't think only in terms of profit! Keep the brand's reputation... make what you do best: great sports cars!

kimbo

June 16, 2009 1:01 AM

To all Porsche haters - Just think how they've started. The 356 no 1 was a small tuned Beetle with lighter body panels and little more HP. Small and light sports cars is just what they were making in the early days. This is simply going back to the Ferdinand's philosophy.

chris25

June 16, 2009 1:12 AM

Below porsche boxster range? uhhmmmm there is already a cayman which sits between the boxster & the carrera s, what are they going to be build below than that, the cayman 2 or something. Seriously I think, they should bring back the Carrera GT instead of something silly.

awhk

June 16, 2009 4:58 AM

Probably a Caveman or something. lol~~~ I really hope Porsche can focus on the middle-high priced sports car range though.

catchmyshadow

June 16, 2009 2:17 AM

Porsche wouldn´t exist anymore without cars like the Cayenne. It is currently the best selling Porsche in their line up and the next generation will sell even more, cause it will look smoother and it will be far more efficient. same with the panamera and the 2-door coupe they are planning on the panamera platform. after all the criticism about the design people will get used it, like the market got used to the cayenne´s design. and such a little roadster would be a perfect entry model for younger people, like the Audi TT, BMW Z4 etc. good move. Porsche knows exactly what they are doing and what`s good for their brand and their future.

911fnatic

June 16, 2009 2:57 AM

Anyone for a Porsche hatch? haha:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/vrooom99/porschehatch.jpg

yulei

June 16, 2009 3:15 AM

In my eyes,Porsche is Porsche! not a VW .

sensei

June 16, 2009 3:39 AM

Then you don't know much about car history. Unfortunatley, even in the age of the Internet, too many Ameircans have no idea about anything. For example, most Americans think that Mercedes-benz is only a luxury car maker. This is simply not reality. MB does have the SLR, but they also offer the A-Klasse entry level car. BMW made a comeback with the Isetta.

Porsche is just realizing that they too can have multi-market offerings without dilluting their premiere models.

adz612

June 16, 2009 2:07 PM

So what do you think a 911 is? It's a Beetle in running shoes. Anyone who is a true Porsche fan will know that the 356 and the 911 started off their lives as Beetles. (back then originally called 901, but switched to 911 thanks to some gripe by Peugeot that they hole the rights to any model designation with a '0' in the middle) As far as the entry model goes, might be a great idea, and would make for some seriously good RS models. Maybe a baby RSR. :)

Dr.Mabuse

June 16, 2009 4:00 AM

The trend downwards continues. The Boxster was supposed to be the "entry-level" car. Must they fill out every conceivable market segment? Bring on a VW take-over I say.

Aesthetics

June 16, 2009 5:41 AM

porsche 914? why is everyone panicking when porsche started out with small engined small cars? the cayenne and a 4 door panamera is more out of bound than a mid engine 4 cylinder small sports car which was the core beginning at porsche. ok, ok i know ferrari should not built a 1,500cc car anymore but it is still relative. i wonder if the nicely styled VW Concept BlueSport will share internals.

miki69

June 16, 2009 12:35 PM

at the end they will end up rivaling fiat 500 :)

Sultan91

June 16, 2009 1:30 PM

personally i believe Porsche's approach is quite good, since with the global crisis, there wont be many 911 turbo or carrera gt sales compared to with lets say 1 year ago. Small engines like 1.5L are yes small, but dont forget this is Porsche we are talking about, im sure they will fit it to a well fitted body and chassis and a gearbox that fits this engine.

VWinsider

June 16, 2009 1:41 PM

Checkout the VW concept R this could be the new baby porsche???

Aesthetics

June 16, 2009 1:51 PM

personally i think the current line up are already stretching it although thank god the cayman came, the 3.4 pdk is said to be the best to drive

pxsupply

June 16, 2009 2:29 PM

Hey, A Porsche minivan cold be a nice replacement for our Honda Odyssey! :-)

9TNine

June 18, 2009 12:32 AM

I liked the 914...

Porsche should re-introduce it; after all, they've been there before!

alex_w115

June 18, 2009 3:21 AM

...or a new 912, put the 1.4TFSI in the 997? No seriously, smaller displacement cars sounds good to me. I'll never be abble to afford, tax & insure a 3.6L 997. A small engined, light elise type sounds good to me. On a different note: I'm sure that, if the smart roadster had a better gearbox, it would have sold much better, and therefore still be around.

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