Baby Boxster ?!?!

[limoncello]

I tend to agree with ARModen's line of thought: Adding lightness is good. If they could actually keep the weight down (south of 2700 lbs), you could have a fun car to drive.

The article wasn't real clear to me whether the New 356 was "in lieu of" the current Box or "in additon to"...

Lastly, if R&T is indeed correct about "hitting the road" in 2012, then this thing has to be pretty far along in development. Where are the concept cars? Why no more press than this?

[eightsandaces]

Hey I don't mean to derail but I wanted to let everyone know the 911 GT3 is on Autoweek this Sunday.

[Perfectlap]

There's nothing wrong with adding a 356. But Porsche doesn't really see it as a 356 according to the article. They just want to figure out a way to capture volume via Honda priced car. That's a bad move. Or maybe they are in bad shape and need the cash. I'm guessing that existing solely on small unit sales at high prices is causing the execs at Porsche to feel a bit nervous during a 3 year recession. Yikes recessions are not supposed to last that long! Probably because its not really just a recession...
If they do a cheapo Boxster masquerading as a 356...no doubt they will have a cheapo Cayenne as well. Next will be a cheapo Panamera. Then a cheapo Minivan. Slap Porsche badge on it and it will sell...so they think.

[dallison]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

There's nothing wrong with adding a 356. But Porsche doesn't really see it as a 356 according to the article. They just want to figure out a way to capture volume via Honda priced car. That's a bad move. Or maybe they are in bad shape and need the cash. I'm guessing that existing solely on small unit sales at high prices is causing the execs at Porsche to feel a bit nervous during a 3 year recession. Yikes recessions are not supposed to last that long! Probably because its not really just a recession...
If they do a cheapo Boxster masquerading as a 356...no doubt they will have a cheapo Cayenne as well. Next will be a cheapo Panamera. Then a cheapo Minivan. Slap Porsche badge on it and it will sell...so they think.

i think we have to look back when porsche brought out the boxster. Some thought that it would cheapen the brand by selling a 50k base porsche. But seeing that this market has brought new customers, the 356 may work, but how much cheaper do you really want to go?

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by dallison

i think we have to look back when porsche brought out the boxster. Some thought that it would cheapen the brand by selling a 50k base porsche. But seeing that this market has brought new customers, the 356 may work, but how much cheaper do you really want to go?

Porsche actually went for the Boxster as a true concept car. They really didn't have an idea of what it woul actually cost to build until the very end of the design process. At that point they were informed by the guys with the calculators that it was going to cost more to make than the Carreras. I think that's when they brough in the Japanese guys to move the company away from the old school Porsche "hand assembled" methods. While they were certainly looking for volume (as they had none at the time) they were looking for a winner more than anything.

This baby boxster is a whole different situation. I'm sure they can quote the price of a VW/Porsche/Audi parts mix of a cookie cutter two seater down to the penny. There's nothing unprecedented in that car. The Boxster on the other hand was first 100% designed only to be a roadster that Porsche had ever built. Everything else was just a car with the roof hacked off.

p.s.
Thos concept drawings look pretty weak. I've seen better Miatas.