Porsche Panamera ON THE TABLE by Peter M. De Lorenzo

[jmshepard]

Wendelin Wiedeking. The Porsche AG CEO came up with our AE "Huh? of the Week" with his answer to a question posed to him at the Frankfurt Auto Show by a team of Automotive News reporters. After asking about the upcoming Porsche Panamera four-door sedan - which Wiedeking pronounced as being "...a great new car for Porsche - and it will be a Porsche" - AN then asked the following question: Will you then be a luxury vehicle company rather than a luxury sports car company? To which Wiedeking replied: "We will be the producer of very sporty luxury cars. That's it. Our core business is and will be sports cars in the future." Huh? Well which is it, Wendelin? Are you a maker of very sporty luxury cars - a phrase we'd never in our wildest imagination associate with Porsche before you came on board? Or, are you a sports car company? We think you have answered the billion-dollar question for hard-core Porsche enthusiasts once and for all, even though you then tried to correct yourself. The truth is, Wendelin, that you're personally responsible for taking Porsche away from its "maker of exclusive sports cars" roots. Sporty luxury cars? "Sporty" is the term Detroit always used when they didn't have the real performance goods in the 80s and 90s. It's blatantly offensive and exposes you for the mercenary you really are - one who marches to the siren song of short-term profits above all else. With a bloated, overweight and overwrought SUV, and now a four-door sedan (no matter how hard your marketing mavens try to cloak it in that "four-door coupe" bull**** language), Porsche's "core" business is no longer about making sports cars, Wendelin. It's about making "very sporty luxury cars." Which means that Porsche is now officially just another car company. Way to go, Wendelin. You've taken Porsche's proud history, when "excellence was expected" and dumbed it down to the lowest common denominator, which is why your favorite description of the company, "the most profitable car company in the world" is now the official corporate moniker for Porsche. And here we thought the disgraced Jurgen Schrempp was as bad as it gets when it comes to German car executives...

[nostatic]

luckily my '79 can't read. Makes me no nevermind...

[pwd72s]

Having been there-done that, and knowing that Thomas Wolfe was right? Even tho I can afford 'em, I'm done with P-cars.

[livi]

If the producing and selling of large numbers of Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman and Panamera will keep on making enough money to design and produce cars like the GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 and Turbo - I am happy. We all know where PAG was heading before Herr Wiernersnabel came aboard - down the drain.

[pwd72s]

Yup...buy as you wish, Markus...it's your money.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by livi

If the producing and selling of large numbers of Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman and Panamera will keep on making enough money to design and produce cars like the GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 and Turbo - I am happy. We all know where PAG was heading before Herr Wiernersnabel came aboard - down the drain.

I agree Markus. It's easy to forget about the great Porsche performance/race cars you mention when one is caught in the fog of the Panamera.

Personally, I like the Cayenne and look forward to driving the Panamera.

It would be nice to see Porsche get back into the prototype classes at Le Mans though . . .

Best,

Kurt

[the]

Sporty cars, lol.

Maybe next Porsche can make cars with "peppy" performance.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by jmshepard

Wendelin Wiedeking. The Porsche AG CEO came up with our AE "Huh? of the Week" with his answer to a question posed to him at the Frankfurt Auto Show by a team of Automotive News reporters. After asking about the upcoming Porsche Panamera four-door sedan - which Wiedeking pronounced as being "...a great new car for Porsche - and it will be a Porsche" - AN then asked the following question: Will you then be a luxury vehicle company rather than a luxury sports car company? To which Wiedeking replied: "We will be the producer of very sporty luxury cars. That's it. Our core business is and will be sports cars in the future." Huh? Well which is it, Wendelin? Are you a maker of very sporty luxury cars - a phrase we'd never in our wildest imagination associate with Porsche before you came on board? Or, are you a sports car company? We think you have answered the billion-dollar question for hard-core Porsche enthusiasts once and for all, even though you then tried to correct yourself. The truth is, Wendelin, that you're personally responsible for taking Porsche away from its "maker of exclusive sports cars" roots. Sporty luxury cars? "Sporty" is the term Detroit always used when they didn't have the real performance goods in the 80s and 90s. It's blatantly offensive and exposes you for the mercenary you really are - one who marches to the siren song of short-term profits above all else. With a bloated, overweight and overwrought SUV, and now a four-door sedan (no matter how hard your marketing mavens try to cloak it in that "four-door coupe" bull**** language), Porsche's "core" business is no longer about making sports cars, Wendelin. It's about making "very sporty luxury cars." Which means that Porsche is now officially just another car company. Way to go, Wendelin. You've taken Porsche's proud history, when "excellence was expected" and dumbed it down to the lowest common denominator, which is why your favorite description of the company, "the most profitable car company in the world" is now the official corporate moniker for Porsche. And here we thought the disgraced Jurgen Schrempp was as bad as it gets when it comes to German car executives...

Yawn........!

"Is Porsche a sporty luxury car or a luxurious sports car?"

I'm only surprised Wiedeking didn't show the reporter his middle finger.

[livi]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Yup...buy as you wish, Markus...it's your money.

I have never and will never be able to afford a brand new Porsche of any model. When they are 20 years old however, I will still be glad there are these kind of cars built (including regular Carreras!). Without Herr Wunderbaum and his 'sporty luxury' models, there might not have been any Porsche cars built at all anymore.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by livi

If the producing and selling of large numbers of Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman and Panamera will keep on making enough money to design and produce cars like the GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 and Turbo - I am happy. We all know where PAG was heading before Herr Wiernersnabel came aboard - down the drain.

Thanks Markus. Pretty amazing that people can complain about lack of sportiness from the company that recently brought us the CGT, GT3, GT3RS, GT2, Turbo, and all the regular 911, Cayman, and Boxster models. jmshepard does not seem happy with the current offerings, but I'd venture to guess that just about every new Porsche model could dust his SC or 993 around a track. I guess the "good old days" will always be better in some people's minds.

Wiedeking doesn't have anything to prove to anyone. Porsche makes some of the fastest and most capable sports cars on earth, and is the most profitable automaker in the world. Not to mention they've managed to remain independent, rare in this age. He has nothing to prove to a bunch of guys driving 20 year old Porsches.

[rfuerst911sc]

I have a 911SC and a 914 I'm converting to a /6 so I am classified as " stuck in the past " and that's O.K. by me. But I have no grudge against Porsche for their current line up of cars, as a matter of fact many of these newer cars beat me at the autocrosses. In general I love new cars for their technology and reliability but only for a daily driver and that's why I drive a Toyota. For a sports car I don't want anti-lock brakes,traction control etc. I want raw driving feedback. I am not *****ing about Porsche not building a air cooled raw car because I know that is not realistic, the auto industry and the competition has changed dramatically. So for those of us stuck in the past let's keep the cars we love going so they can be remembered. And for those that can/do purchase the new ones enjoy them to the max and keep the marque going,thriving,living.

[jmshepard]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Thanks Markus. Pretty amazing that people can complain about lack of sportiness from the company that recently brought us the CGT, GT3, GT3RS, GT2, Turbo, and all the regular 911, Cayman, and Boxster models. jmshepard does not seem happy with the current offerings, but I'd venture to guess that just about every new Porsche model could dust his SC or 993 around a track. I guess the "good old days" will always be better in some people's minds.

Wiedeking doesn't have anything to prove to anyone. Porsche makes some of the fastest and most capable sports cars on earth, and is the most profitable automaker in the world. Not to mention they've managed to remain independent, rare in this age. He has nothing to prove to a bunch of guys driving 20 year old Porsches.

Actually Matt, my last track event provided a personal epiphany.
My 911SC track car would not only be dusted by ANY current P-Car, it has a hard time keeping up with many off-the-shelf “economy” cars. My lightweight 911 (2300lbs) and all of it’s 200 HP can’t cope with an Acura RSX nor a WRX STi. I have been overcome by history.

My issue is the leadership of Porsche trading on the history of the company to build sporty cars vice sports cars. The effort and philosophy that the company’s founders invested in the company has in large measure been abandoned for other vehicle markets. In the end, what will make Porsche different from BMW, MB or GM? It used to be that I could buy a car that was not too far removed from what was built to run at LeMans. As time marches forward, that becomes less of the case.
Does Ferrari’s current leadership feel compelled to diverge from Enzo’s philosophy to make that company the most profitable car company in the world? I don’t think that this considered as an option at Modena.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by jmshepard

Does Ferrari’s current leadership feel compelled to diverge from Enzo’s philosophy to make that company the most profitable car company in the world? I don’t think that this considered as an option at Modena.

Apples and oranges. That company has other brands (Maserati, Alfa, Fiat) and can position Ferrari where it likes. Porsche does not have that option. At least not until it owns VW outright.

[911teo]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Apples and oranges. That company has other brands (Maserati, Alfa, Fiat) and can position Ferrari where it likes. Porsche does not have that option. At least not until it owns VW outright.

Bingo!

[911teo]

Originally Posted by jmshepard

snip

My issue is the leadership of Porsche trading on the history of the company to build sporty cars vice sports cars. The effort and philosophy that the company’s founders invested in the company has in large measure been abandoned for other vehicle markets. In the end, what will make Porsche different from BMW, MB or GM? It used to be that I could buy a car that was not too far removed from what was built to run at LeMans. As time marches forward, that becomes less of the case.
....

You can buy a 997 RSR or a 997 Cup directly from Porsche AG. They are not that far off a GT3 RS. The 997 Cup is the cheapest modern race car with a factory backing.

Go and buy a 430 scuderia (after you joing the 4yr waiting list and become an official Ferrari supported team).... and see what it is like...

The pepperwagon, Panamera and other "sporty-luxury" vehicle do not detract anything from nor dilute the pleasure of driving cars like the GT3 RS or CGT.

Is it an image problem? Are you bothered abt the soccer mums dusting you at the traffic light with their SUV?

Enjoy your car for what it is and what it represents.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by jmshepard

Actually Matt, my last track event provided a personal epiphany.
My 911SC track car would not only be dusted by ANY current P-Car, it has a hard time keeping up with many off-the-shelf “economy” cars. My lightweight 911 (2300lbs) and all of it’s 200 HP can’t cope with an Acura RSX nor a WRX STi. I have been overcome by history.

Yeah, but you're having more fun as they beat you.

Glad you're realistic though, many people refuse to admit that Porsches continue to just get better, as do most modern cars. Even the hated Cayanne can beat out most older 911s on a track. Progress, like it or not.

[Komenda Fan]

I agree with the idea that Porsche needed to diversify in order to remain independent, but I grew up at a time when Porsche was building their brand on two principals - top level motorsports improves the breed, and that Porsche built the best sportscars because that was all they did. I find it hard to divorce myself from those ideas, even though Porsche has.

I keep hoping that with the acquisition of VW (and therefore Audi, Bentley, Lambo, Bugatti, etc.) Porsche can go back to a pure sportscar manufacturer. I don't seriously believe that will happen, however. Instead, I imagine a Bentley SUV (shudder).

[the]

Originally Posted by livi

If the producing and selling of large numbers of Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman and Panamera will keep on making enough money to design and produce cars like the GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 and Turbo - I am happy. We all know where PAG was heading before Herr Wiernersnabel came aboard - down the drain.

The Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman etc. have very little to do with Porsche's recent outrageous financial success.

This is the little secret that Porsche doesn't really talk much about.

[K. Roman]

In SF, where I live, there are Porsches on every corner. I see mainly Carreras. Then Boxters, SUV, and lastly Caymans. So, from what I see the 911 is still the mainstay.

[911teo]

Originally Posted by the

The Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman etc. have very little to do with Porsche's recent outrageous financial success.

This is the little secret that Porsche doesn't really talk much about.

Enlight us all.. what is it that makes PAG flourish? Speculation on the financial mkts? MMMmmm mayb they were short Societe' General, or long Fed funds... Maybe they sold Apple shares before their profit announcement...

Please.... The Cayenne and the Boxster are the best selling Porsches ever, wether we like it or not...