"Porsche chief drops plan for entry-level model"

[Scott Watkins]

Porsche chief drops plan for entry-level model - FT.com

[porsche4life]

Bad link.....

[kach22i]

Some pop up ad in that link will not allow me to read the article.

Try this one:

Porsche CEO drops plan for entry-level model: report
Porsche CEO drops plan for entry-level model: report | Reuters

Such plans would risk diluting the brand and alienate traditional customers, according to Mueller.

[Scott Watkins]

Sorry about that.

"BERLIN, May 12 – German sports car maker Porsche has dropped plans to build a two-seater vehicle which would have been smaller and cheaper than its Boxster model, Stuttgarter Zeitung reported on Saturday, citing Chief Executive Officer Matthias Müller.

Such plans would risk diluting the brand and alienate traditional customers, according to Mr Müller.

“We would do no good to the brand if we were to lose traditional Porsche customers” by pursuing a smaller Boxster model, the CEO was quoted as saying in an interview.

Mr Müller said Porsche also has no immediate plans to develop a smaller version of its four-door Panamera sedan, though he indicated that such a model could become an option in five or six years.

Porsche is aiming to increase annual deliveries to about 200,000 sports cars and SUVs by taking advantage of resources at Volkswagen. Europe’s largest auto manufacturer owns 49.9 per cent of Porsche’s core business and is currently examining ways to purchase the remainder."

[GWN7]

They are too busy selling cars in China to bother about building brand loyalty anywhere else.

[KNS]

Porsche wants to sell 200,000 cars a year but they are worried about "diluting the brand" with another sports car...

[RWebb]

Exactly. Well put.

This is too bad - I just hope the VW version is still a go.

If not, my small roadster desire can always devolve onto some other brand.

We just have to ask (again): Has Porsche lost its way?

[GWN7]

BlueSport Roadster ..... mabey for 2013

2013 Volkswagen BlueSport Roadster Review and Prices - Consumer Guide Automotive

[KNS]

Forty years ago one would see a BMW and say: "Look, a BMW". Now they are as common as Hondas (or more so if you are in Socal).

Thirty or 40 years from now will Porsche be the same as BMW is today?

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by KNS

Porsche wants to sell 200,000 cars a year but they are worried about "diluting the brand" with another sports car...

+100

Apparently, we cannot trust anything Matthias Müller says. That puts a lot of concern in my mind with his "commitment" to motorsport racing.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by KNS

Porsche wants to sell 200,000 cars a year but they are worried about "diluting the brand" with another sports car...

Selling 200,000 cars a year would dilute the brand - no matter what is in the lineup.

You cannot be a premier car maker and a volume car maker at the same time.

-Z-man

[onewhippedpuppy]

A new simple and inexpensive sports car will dilute the brand, but a new small SUV won't. Makes you wonder about their plans for the brand......

Though let's be honest here, in this case "dilute the brand" probably means "not a fat enough profit margin". They're the ultimate money making machine these days.

[patssle]

So if they did build it, would the Boxster still be the "poor man's Porsche"?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by patssle

So if they did build it, would the Boxster still be the poor man's Porsche?

Well, the VW is ugly. And I don't care what you say about the Boxster, the newest one is fabulous and fabulously expensive.

Poor man's my ass.

[patssle]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, the VW is ugly. And I don't care what you say about the Boxster, the newest one is fabulous and fabulously expensive.

Poor man's my ass.

Agreed, should have put it in quotes - not my thoughts towards it - I like the new Boxster. I would buy it or the Cayman over a new 911.

[imcarthur]

It's as poor as they want to get. The suits have told them that below that threshold, their 'acceptable' profitability slides. Their market research has told them that their brand doesn't need to be fed from a lower model.

Ian

[EarlyPorsche]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Exactly. Well put.

This is too bad - I just hope the VW version is still a go.

If not, my small roadster desire can always devolve onto some other brand.

We just have to ask (again): Has Porsche lost its way?

Have you thought out your reasoning there? You want the vw copy of a boxster and if you cannot purchase the copy then you will stray from the original and purchase a different brand? You like the original enough to buy a copy but you wouldn't just buy the original if the copy falls through?

[RWebb]

Why, yes, I have thought out my reasoning.

I want a small, light wt. roadster with the engine in the middle. It needs to carry 2 people + dog and some luggage.

What was planned is in no way a copy of a boxster -- I have no idea what the rest of your post means.

[Black968]

The brand has already been diluted and has alienated the traditionalists and purists. I am surprised they have taken this stance as the damage has already been done, why stop now? A four door and an SUV has already turned most of the ol' school die-hards to other brands.

[mikeesik]

They have it waaay to good these days.