Porsche: Development and Technology News
#42
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Porsche: 4 Cylinder Engines to be Sold
http://www.leftlanenews.com/porsche-...der-model.html
First Bimmer, now Porsche? The birth of a new paradigm that probably began with the B18C long ago and finally comes to fruition with the larger auto manufacturers?
Porsche prepared to produce four-cylinder model
Stricter emissions and fuel economy regulations are looming on the horizon for the world’s automakers, which has many car makers completely rethinking their future powertrain offerings. While more mainstream automakers have already announced plans to cut back larger engine production, the world’s exotics have indicated they have no plans on changing their proven supercar formulas. However, Porsche might be bucking the performance car trend as it has engineered a green Plan B into its new car lineup.
Thomas Krickelberg, Porsche’s head of powertrains, revealed that the company’s new range of six-cylinder engines were actually engineered so they could be converted to four pot units. “[There are] the discussions about global warming and the need to reduce fuel consumption,” Krickelberg told Drive. “The target was to have a six-cylinder because that is the criteria of the 911 and the Boxster. But there is still the option to reduce the number of cylinders.”
The result of lopping off two cylinders would be a Boxer four displacing about 2.4L.
Despite the ability to turn its six-cylinder engines into four-cylinders rather easily, Porsche has no plans to produce a four-cylinder models of yet. Instead, Porsche will use the flexibility of its powerplants more as a Plan B – only using the option if the need arises.
Although Porsche doesn’t currently offer a four-cylinder model, the automaker has a lengthy history with the four-cylinder engine, dating back to the company’s first Porsche 64 in 1939.
Stricter emissions and fuel economy regulations are looming on the horizon for the world’s automakers, which has many car makers completely rethinking their future powertrain offerings. While more mainstream automakers have already announced plans to cut back larger engine production, the world’s exotics have indicated they have no plans on changing their proven supercar formulas. However, Porsche might be bucking the performance car trend as it has engineered a green Plan B into its new car lineup.
Thomas Krickelberg, Porsche’s head of powertrains, revealed that the company’s new range of six-cylinder engines were actually engineered so they could be converted to four pot units. “[There are] the discussions about global warming and the need to reduce fuel consumption,” Krickelberg told Drive. “The target was to have a six-cylinder because that is the criteria of the 911 and the Boxster. But there is still the option to reduce the number of cylinders.”
The result of lopping off two cylinders would be a Boxer four displacing about 2.4L.
Despite the ability to turn its six-cylinder engines into four-cylinders rather easily, Porsche has no plans to produce a four-cylinder models of yet. Instead, Porsche will use the flexibility of its powerplants more as a Plan B – only using the option if the need arises.
Although Porsche doesn’t currently offer a four-cylinder model, the automaker has a lengthy history with the four-cylinder engine, dating back to the company’s first Porsche 64 in 1939.
#44
The sizzle in the Steak
Do not want.
#45
Safety Car
"Although Porsche doesn’t currently offer a four-cylinder model, the automaker has a lengthy history with the four-cylinder engine, dating back to the company’s first Porsche 64 in 1939. "
suuure thats there reasoning. is the energy crisis that bad that even porsche needs to have a 4cyl on the back burner??
suuure thats there reasoning. is the energy crisis that bad that even porsche needs to have a 4cyl on the back burner??
#47
Senior Moderator
Porsche buys a Tesla Roadster for R&D purposes
Although electric vehicles are generally regarded as the future of four-wheel motoring, very few automakers actually have a viable EV platform. The problem in lies with the complexity of an electric vehicle – from the software to the general packaging. That being said, Tesla has become one of the first to produce a proper EV, which has some of the world’s elite automakers taking notice.
Porsche has reportedly placed an order for Tesla’ Roadster EV, which will undoubtedly be used for R&D purposes – a practice not uncommon in the auto industry. The Roadster represents everything a Porsche EV would stand for – excellent acceleration, handling and braking – so it makes sense that the German automaker is so interested in the electric two-seater.
The other reason for Porsche’s interest in the Roadster likely stems from its failure with its own E-RUF electric 911. The E-RUF is an all-electric concept Porsche launched earlier this year, but its performance is more in line with a Toyota Prius than Porsche 911. Zero to 60 in the E-RUF takes a lethargic 7 seconds, with the car’s 4,200 lbs. curb weight taking a serious toll on cornering a braking.
Because of the disappointment with the E-RUF and the news of the Roadster purchase, it appears as though Porsche is going back to the drawing board with its electric plans. That means the first all-electric Porsche is likely several years away, but at least the automakers first production EV will be worthy of the Porsche nameplate.
Porsche has reportedly placed an order for Tesla’ Roadster EV, which will undoubtedly be used for R&D purposes – a practice not uncommon in the auto industry. The Roadster represents everything a Porsche EV would stand for – excellent acceleration, handling and braking – so it makes sense that the German automaker is so interested in the electric two-seater.
The other reason for Porsche’s interest in the Roadster likely stems from its failure with its own E-RUF electric 911. The E-RUF is an all-electric concept Porsche launched earlier this year, but its performance is more in line with a Toyota Prius than Porsche 911. Zero to 60 in the E-RUF takes a lethargic 7 seconds, with the car’s 4,200 lbs. curb weight taking a serious toll on cornering a braking.
Because of the disappointment with the E-RUF and the news of the Roadster purchase, it appears as though Porsche is going back to the drawing board with its electric plans. That means the first all-electric Porsche is likely several years away, but at least the automakers first production EV will be worthy of the Porsche nameplate.
At first I thought is said "Porsche buys Tesla Roadster for R&D purposes"
#48
The sizzle in the Steak
hmmmm
#52
The sizzle in the Steak
Porsche: Volkswagen Board Votes to Cancel Porsche Cayenne and Panamera
Porsche may have expanded out of the sports car segments over the last few years – first with the Cayenne SUV and most recently with the Panamera sedan – but the now Volkswagen-led will be returning to its roots over the next few years.
Although the Cayenne has been a huge money maker for Porsche, it really doesn’t fit in the automaker’s sports car theme. As such, Volkswagen’s board has decided to ax the Cayenne from Porsche’s product line after the next-generation of the SUV has run its course. An updated version of the Cayenne will bow for the 2011 model year, but no updates are expected thereafter.
Perhaps even more surprising, VW’s board has also voted to kill off the recently launched Panamera sedan after its initial run, according to Car. The Cayenne and Panamera are expected to finish their current life cycles with production ceasing sometime in 2016.
“VW Group has plenty of SUVs and saloons [sedans] — it doesn’t need Porsche to build them,” an inside source told Car.
Despite the thinning of the ranks, VW is said to be working on a new entry-level vehicle for Porsche. As previously reported, the new model would slot beneath the Porsche Boxster and share its underpinnings with a production version of the VW Bluesport concept.
Although the Cayenne has been a huge money maker for Porsche, it really doesn’t fit in the automaker’s sports car theme. As such, Volkswagen’s board has decided to ax the Cayenne from Porsche’s product line after the next-generation of the SUV has run its course. An updated version of the Cayenne will bow for the 2011 model year, but no updates are expected thereafter.
Perhaps even more surprising, VW’s board has also voted to kill off the recently launched Panamera sedan after its initial run, according to Car. The Cayenne and Panamera are expected to finish their current life cycles with production ceasing sometime in 2016.
“VW Group has plenty of SUVs and saloons [sedans] — it doesn’t need Porsche to build them,” an inside source told Car.
Despite the thinning of the ranks, VW is said to be working on a new entry-level vehicle for Porsche. As previously reported, the new model would slot beneath the Porsche Boxster and share its underpinnings with a production version of the VW Bluesport concept.
Porsche is going back to making sports cars!!!!!!!!
#54
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I wouldn't mind a cheaper Porsche, say like a remake of the 914?
#55
AZ Community Team
http://www.leftlanenews.com/report-v...tml#more-20797
Porsche is going back to making sports cars!!!!!!!!
Porsche is going back to making sports cars!!!!!!!!
Sad to see the end of the Cayenne, wonder how much Piech protested on it?
#56
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ again...they are going back to making sports-cars....not sports-cars and SUV's, and sedans...and?
#58
Some dude
Porsche is going back to just making sports cars!!!!!!!!
Fixed. And you're welcome.
#59
Go Big Blue!
Wow! That's surprising news. That's the LAST thing I expected to here after the VW shotgun wedding. Personally I'm glad. I didn't like the direction they were going. Yay!
#60
Engineer
Cutting the Cayenne sounds like a terrible move. Do they expect Cayenne owners to just jump down to a Audi Q7 or VW Toureg? They are just going to lose that business to BMW and Mercedes...
#61
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ Who cares Porsche is moving back to what it does best....and that is a very good thing
#62
AZ Community Team
That would be my brother (Cayenne Turbo owner), he test drove a Toureg and said it's no comparison to the Cayenne. At the end of the day he wanted a X5 4.8is or a Cayenne Turbo.
#64
I never understood why the idea of the Cayenne or Panamera was so bad in the first place. It isn't like the release of these vehicles prevented Porsche from developing the Cayman and continually improving the 911.
#67
AZ Community Team
The Cayenne brought in a large group of first time Porsche buyers and it was not a entry class vehicle.
#69
Senior Moderator
#70
Senior Moderator
As for the Panemera, they'd be nuts to kill it so quickly and lose ALL the R&D. They could probably turn a profit after a few years.
#71
AZ Community Team
Since the Cayenne and Toureg share so many parts, its probably worthwhile to keep it in production until the Toureg is redesigned. Do they also share an assembly line?
As for the Panemera, they'd be nuts to kill it so quickly and lose ALL the R&D. They could probably turn a profit after a few years.
As for the Panemera, they'd be nuts to kill it so quickly and lose ALL the R&D. They could probably turn a profit after a few years.
#72
Engineer
#73
The Panamera was a bad idea only in execution. The Cayenne was a bad idea to begin with but its Porsche's top seller(?). I doubt the Q5 is heavily cross-shopped with the Cayenne. The Cayenne is a pretty bad ass SUV anyways, so I think they should keep it. The Panamera? Don't let the tooling go to waste.... just produce it until they turn a profit and kill that embarrassing thing off. It can't do much worse than the current RL, and the RL is still in production. I personally would never buy a Porsche-hearse, even if my income supported it.
#74
Your Friendly Canadian
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Means that Porsche can go back to making BETTER sports cars, more R&D moola into the 911 and Boxter and Cayman, and not blown on the Cayenne and Panamera. Those models were just money-makers and with VW as its daddy, no more cash woes for the Porsche family, which means no point in the Cayenne and Panamera. Sadly, we have to survive another 7 years of the two models
Here's to hoping VW doesn't turn Porsche into their Mercury.
Here's to hoping VW doesn't turn Porsche into their Mercury.
#75
Engineer
Means that Porsche can go back to making BETTER sports cars, more R&D moola into the 911 and Boxter and Cayman, and not blown on the Cayenne and Panamera. Those models were just money-makers and with VW as its daddy, no more cash woes for the Porsche family, which means no point in the Cayenne and Panamera. Sadly, we have to survive another 7 years of the two models
Here's to hoping VW doesn't turn Porsche into their Mercury.
Here's to hoping VW doesn't turn Porsche into their Mercury.
I would not be shocked if that extra R&D is just cut or absorbed by other divisions. If anything I would expect VW to start cutting costs.
The volume of 911, Cayman, and Boxter are not going to go up dramatically by these moves and by cutting the Cayenne, you are basically losing half of your revenue from the Porsche group...
#77
I'm the Firestarter
Wow, is this a bit of revenge by VW for Porsche's takeover attempt?
I think both these cars are ugly but from my understanding they were good sellers...
Also, this decision might be just long-term thinking, SUVs are on their way out anyway...
I think both these cars are ugly but from my understanding they were good sellers...
Also, this decision might be just long-term thinking, SUVs are on their way out anyway...
#78
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No point of taking revenge on then if you own the damn company. You're going to lose money.
Seriously, are things like the 5 series GT and Honda Crosstour going to be better than conventional SUVs? We shoulda just stuck with the damn minivan.
Seriously, are things like the 5 series GT and Honda Crosstour going to be better than conventional SUVs? We shoulda just stuck with the damn minivan.
#79
The sizzle in the Steak
Leave the SUV's & Sedans to the rest of the "family". Audi/VW can more than pick up the slack in that department. Sure, some Cayenne buyers will not return to the brand....but they might not have been the sort of buyer VW wants for Porsche.
When Porsche introduces the new (lower level)intro-model vehicle to its line-up within the next few years....those Cayenne buyers that left will be replaced with brand new Porsche buyers who are getting in at a lower level....and will grow with the brand and be Porsche for life customers as they move up the model chain.
In the end, Porsche's image goes from great to incredible by kicking the sluff SUV/Sedans to the curb.
#80
AZ Community Team
I would not be shocked if that extra R&D is just cut or absorbed by other divisions. If anything I would expect VW to start cutting costs.
The volume of 911, Cayman, and Boxter are not going to go up dramatically by these moves and by cutting the Cayenne, you are basically losing half of your revenue from the Porsche group...
The volume of 911, Cayman, and Boxter are not going to go up dramatically by these moves and by cutting the Cayenne, you are basically losing half of your revenue from the Porsche group...
According to the Wall Street Journal article a few years back on the Cayenne the only problem Porsche had was warranty cost for it were much higher than anticipated not due to quality per say but high usage of the vehicle. Traditional Porsche owners only put a few thousand miles a year on their vehicles, where as Cayenne owners were putting 5 figure mileage.