http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=17610
Rumours have been floating around for a while that Porsche is to build a small hatchback, a model derived from the Volkswagen Golf.
German mag Auto Bild has now created an image of the 'Porsche Golf' for its cover story this week, and claims the hatch is due for production in 2012.
This isn't quite as far-fetched as it sounds: Porsche has recently expressed concern about the upcoming CAFE legislation (corporate average fuel economy) in the USA, and such a model will help it reduce the average consumption figure for its line-up.
This also dovetails neatly with the growing demand for small but sporting, high-specification performance hatches: the Porsche 'Golf' could trump models such as the higher-end BMW 1-Series models, the Audi S3, and in the USA in particular, the upcoming Cadillac rear-wheel-drive hatch and the similarly posh models expected shortly from Lexus and Infiniti.
The car would probably be related to the Golf (and Audi A3) in the same way that the Cayenne SUV is related to the Volkswagen Toaureg and Audi Q7, and the upcoming 'Roxster' compact SUV to the Tiguan and Q5: a proportion of shared components, but substantial model-specific engineering, a more powerful engine line-up and fine-tuning and finishing to give a clearly differentiated feel to each. It would be more than merely a rebadged, sported-up Golf.
Does it still sound unlikely? Remember, Porsche now owns a controlling (31%) stake in Volkswagen, and is lobbying for a full takeover later this year.
It has worked closely with Volkswagen in the past even on sports car development (914, 924, not to mention the original Beetle-influenced 356). And after all, who would have predicted Porsche SUVs - Cayenne, Roxster - or indeed, the upcoming Panamera saloon?