Entry-Level Porsche Rumours won't go Away

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Set to be launched in 2012?

By Michael Gauthier
October 29, 2009 5:53 PM
Filed Under: German, Porsche, Rumours

New details have emerged about Porsche's long rumored entry-level model.

Autocar is reporting the mid-engine sports car, tentatively dubbed the "new 356", will cost approximately £33,000 ($54,022 USD / €36,700). This likely means the entry-level 2.9-liter Boxster will be eliminated when it is redesigned.

Power will be provided by a turbocharged (or supercharged) four-cylinder engine with 250bhp. While details are limited, the engine is expected to be based on Porsche's current flat six with a displacement of 1.9- or 2.0-liters.

Set to ride on a new steel and aluminum platform, which will also underpin Audi's upcoming R4, the 356 should be lightweight and highly responsive. While the cars will share a common structure and several major components (the transmission, electrical system, and some suspension pieces), they will both have unique styling and personalities.

According to Autocar, the R4 will be launched in June 2011 and the 356 will arrive in late 2012.

Source: autocar

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Tags: Porsche 356, 2012 Porsche 356, Entry-level Porsche, New 356, Porsche new 356, Audi R4, 2011 Audi R4

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Comments

catchmyshadow

October 29, 2009 6:29 PM

why not? bring it on, it´s gonna be a hot seller.

nederina

October 29, 2009 7:22 PM

Build it Porsche! BMW is going with its green light with its front-engined rear-wheel drive Z2 roadster.

SirTristan

October 29, 2009 7:32 PM

Don't bring it! There is already enough models in the lineup, don't go further downmarket! By 2013 we'll have Boxster, Roxster (smaller Cayenne lol), 356, Cayman, 928 thing, Panamera, Cayenne... this is too much for a sports car brand. Come on, you're making yourself into Audi/BMW/Merc.

scratchy996

October 29, 2009 7:43 PM

what's wrong with Audi/BMW/Merc ?

sub39h

October 29, 2009 7:50 PM

nothing, but 15 years ago Porsche was competing with Ferrari and Lamborghini. a bit of a fall from grace, don't you think?

m4rtins

October 29, 2009 8:04 PM

Comments sections continue to make me laugh, especially when those making comments expect that car companies will survive when they make low volume niche specialty vehicles - and when Porsche fans continue to cry that the brand is diluted and we should go back to the time when only the 911 and 944 were manufactured.....this is the exact reason why the company nearly went bust. As with every business case for every company, higher volumes and greater diversity mean greater sales hence development costs are reduced. Platform sharing, technology sharing, engine sharing etc means reduced development costs for many common components, e.g. airbags, ensures better products at lower prices, greater success and greater profitability. This also allows the niche products to be manufactured, e.g. GT2, GT3 etc. Wake up and you will understand why brands such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini etc are owned by large volume manufacturers that can contribute non-visible common technology and impart a level of safety and reliability. I would much rather be in a modern Audi developed Lambhorghini in a crash compared to a Diablo or Countach. Gone are the days of independent car manufacturers that develop the complete product from the ground - all will need to rely on a technology partner.

Edited by user on October 29, 2009 at 8:08 PM

scratchy996

October 29, 2009 8:16 PM

@sub39h , guess who won the GT2 class in ALMS , LMS and FIA GT2 this year , it was the 911 GT3 beating the F430 , i guess Porsche still competes with Ferrari and they are still good enough to beat them. the new 911 turbo is faster than the F458 and the new GT2 will be even faster than that. so as long as Porsche builds the 911 they will compete with Ferrari , but now they will compete with others as well.

Edited by user on October 29, 2009 at 8:17 PM

Get_real

October 29, 2009 10:12 PM

Who would have thought? I agree with Scratchy996

howe2002

October 30, 2009 12:17 AM

Hey look at Merc. They have a $600,000CAD SLR and they produce the A-Class. Diversity happens to be the key I guess.

October 30, 2009 1:43 AM

@Sirtristan, do you think Porsche is honestly a FOCUSED sports car brand? They are here to make money. Whatever sells. They would sell you a Porsche teddy bear in a racing suit (nothing wrong with it). It's very competitive and they need money to stay in business. how much money did they loss trying to devour VAG ? they need to make that up. @sub39h, yeah, porsche had nothing to compete with F and L 15 years ago, cos their 959 stopped in 1989. (sarcastic laugh).

scratchy996

October 29, 2009 7:44 PM

i hope the rumours about Piech wanting a new Carrera GT are also true.

GTurbo

October 29, 2009 7:58 PM

It's inevitable really. Family dynasties characterise the global auto industry and Ferdinand Piech, ex VW boss and grandson of the great Ferdinand Porsche, is reputed with a Titanic ego. That means he'll get his way in the end as he's on the Porsche BOD (Board of Directors). They're competing with VW now you see and VW just released their stunning budget roadster, which Audi have also snapped up. The Boxster should have sufficed for the entry-level role. This is just brand overkill!

catchmyshadow

October 29, 2009 8:07 PM

it is going to be cheaper than the Boxster but more expensive than the competition (e.g. MX-5). so still porsche like.

jerry05cod4

October 29, 2009 9:32 PM

i cant believe you mentioned a porsche in the same sentence as a mazda...

GTurbo

October 29, 2009 8:11 PM

And, I hasten to add, downmarketing the Porsche brand; unthinkable for Ferrari! Even Aston Martin had been rumoured to want in on the entry-level game with a potential premium hatch. Watch this space!

scratchy996

October 29, 2009 8:24 PM

you act like this is something new. remember the 912, 914 , 924 , 944, 968 ? Porsche is not Ferrari , Ferrari sales are based only on exclusivity, Porsche is a larger scale manufacturer. if Porsche was building only cars costing more than 150k Euros, the story would be different , but they never were a company that built only ultra expensive cars.

btw , Ferrari did go downmarket, they just badged those cars as Maserati.

catchmyshadow

October 29, 2009 8:32 PM

or maybe fiat went up and badged their cars as ferraris

porschecarreragtmay6

October 29, 2009 9:02 PM

Awesome! BUILD IT THIS IS WHY: All of your Porsche purists (i am one), you don't realize this is finaly a light-weight Porsche. This car will be 100% Porsche, why would an entry level car cost 54k. In America it will porbably cost 45k though. This is great news a new 914.

carbonfibreguy

October 30, 2009 1:13 AM

It would be awesome to have a lightweight, but i would be a bit skeptical about buying it if its just a specd up volkswagen bluesport..but on the other hand hopefully thy make it 100% porsche, nothing else.

tbrodie

October 29, 2009 9:02 PM

Maybe the VW Bluemotion roadster concept will have a chance. According to the WCF article earlier this year, VW said it only had about a 20% of making it without Audi or Seat also getting a version.

I wouldn't mind seeing Porsche getting a version and making an affordable 914 like car. The VW-Porsche 914 was dissed by Porsche fans, but it was a great little car.

Christopher

October 29, 2009 9:19 PM

ClintonM3

October 29, 2009 10:48 PM

Downmarket Porsche is not likely, I think is just a rumor, nothing more. An upmarket VW or Audi is more likely.

October 30, 2009 1:39 AM

@ ClintonM3 why not likely? It's all one big family now. Audi is making the R4 for sure, so Porsche just borrows the platform and tweets it to its own flavor, slap a P badge on it, and ppl will buy. look at the Cayenne.

mpower333

October 30, 2009 8:11 AM

YES YES YES!! Finally a good rumor about a car I actually want to see built!

mnovakowski

October 30, 2009 1:41 PM

I'm sorry but did you say $54K for an entry level Porsche? That is absurd. The car should be in the $30's not the $50's. There is nothing magical about this brand and its cars are already out performed by less expensive competitors for virtually every model. If the Porsche is $54k I'll take the VW version which will have a much bigger dealer network and cost far less to maintian.

scratchy996

October 30, 2009 7:33 PM

if you are looking for bang per buck , search elsewhere, Porsche is not for you.

Xanavi23

October 31, 2009 4:48 PM

Im a Porschephile, love every single car save for the Cayenne base. I see no problem with this. This car would be good for the brand and it would be good for us Porsche lovers that don't have too much money. Everyone wins. Badging it as a 914 like some others said is extremely fitting and would work quite well. 250hp will suffice but Porsche would do awesome to try and keep the weight under 3000lbs even better if they can do under 2900lbs. With an M/R drivetrain it'll have an Ace up its sleeve that few rivals do.

Xanavi23

October 31, 2009 9:45 PM

*But like scratchy said, Porsche shouldn't dilute itself by offering cars that are below a certain price range.

Schizo0223

November 1, 2009 6:29 PM

Xanavi... I'm a Porschphile also...and I also did not like the Cayenne...but trust me when you have kids and need to haul kiddy stuff around on weekends the Cayenne starts looking really nice.

Xanavi23

November 1, 2009 9:50 PM

Of course budd, it helps that even the Cayenne S is capable of really moving, let alone the Turbo that hauls @$$ period. I see where you're coming from, why get a boring van. The Cayenne base is okay too cause the VW V6 is a good engine, it just seems weak for a Porsche but then again its much cheaper too while not losing too much quality.

Edited by user on November 1, 2009 at 9:51 PM

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