A report out of Europe today suggests the Porsche Panamera platform architecture will be shared among other brands within VW Group. This would apparently happen, even if the Panamera expires in 2017 as predicted earlier this week.
An unnamed source close to the company suggests that Audi, Bentley and Bugatti are the most likely candidates. Lamborghini has already been ruled out, even though the Panamera platform looks tempting as a basis for an Estoque production car.
Bentley could use this platform to build the next Continental GT, though the dimensional differences between the Panamera and the current Continental might make it unsuitable. For Bugatti, it could be a front-engined, two- or four-door complement to the Veyron. Or, if Audi decided to use it, it could be a five-door, GT-type hatchback companion to the R8. However, the Panamera's steel structure would probably rule it out for Audi, which likes to build in aluminum, the source concludes.
If you were rubbing shoulders with VW Group's Ferdinand Piech, how would you advise him on using the Porsche Panamera platform architecture?
Inside Line News: Porsche To Share Panamera Platform With Other VW Brands
zoomzoomn says:
07:23 AM, 09/ 3/09
You know, I think that VW really needs to get a grip. They keep trying to move their products into the premium range even though they have Audi (and now Porsche?). I think that they would be better served financially if they just concentrate on making their cars a nice entry level german engineered alternative to the likes of Honda/Toyota/Ford, etc.. They need to leave the premium end to Audi and performance end to Porsche. Makes sense, no?
estreka says:
08:08 AM, 09/ 3/09
The problem with an entry-level European brand is cost. For whatever reason, we tariff the hell out of Euro imports, making them very expensive to American customers. If you live in Europe (or pretty much anywhere around the world), European cars can be cheap. It's only here that they are not.
Now, some companies work around that. BMW utilizes final assembly plants in South Africa. Also, all Euro brands have factories in North America. But many critical components (engines, trannies, et al) are still manufactured in Europe. That's why a VW Golf (or Rabbit, or whatever it's called) costs so much.
redliner says:
02:19 PM, 09/ 3/09
IMHO, Im not sure that there is room in the VW garage for yet another expensive, somewhat pointless super-sedan.
cwc1 says:
05:59 PM, 09/ 3/09
I think Volkswagen needs to be very careful, as too much platform sharing between distinct marques tends to dilute the uniqueness and the character that each one is known for. And then, what's the point? Is it a Volkswagen or is it a Porsche? However, the Volkswagen group does seem to have a good track record with its Bentley and Bugatti lines.
There's another company who has been in the news a lot in the last year who did a lot of this over the past two to three decades, which contributed to the detriment of the company and its divisions, its customer image, and its revenues.
So, who could that be, who could it possibly be? I just don't know, just can't quite think of it now, nothing comes to mind, let's see now...
Could it be...GM?!!!