Porsche Claims “De Facto” Control of VW

By Marty Padgett September 16th, 2008

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It's a case of Wolfsburg vs. Stuttgart over in Germany, where privately held automaker Porsche claims "de facto" control over the world's third-largest auto company, VW AG, having gained control of 35.1 percent of voting rights in the German conglomerate.

VW, its union workers, and its second-largest shareholder, the German State of Lower Saxony (in which Wolfsburg is located), aren't having it. Detroit News reports that Lower Saxony's premier, Christian Wulff, is threatening to raise his government's stake in VW by almost 5 percent, bringing it to a solid 25 percent and allowing the government veto power on the supervisory board. But can Wulff make a convincing case that the $6 billion needed to purchase that stake is a worthwhile expenditure? It sounds like he, Wagoner (GM), and Mulally (Ford) are in a similar boat, though the American CEOs have a lot more to lose.

Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking stated that the maker of exclusive sportscars (and SUVs that share a platform, notably, with the VW Touareg) intends to continue increasing its shares of VW until it surpasses 50 percent. The two firms have shared a relationship since their inception, with the very first "People's Car," or Beetle, having been designed by famed engineer Ferdinand Porsche. In modern times, Porsche's grandson, Ferdinand Piëch, was formerly CEO of Volkswagen and is currently the chair of VW's supervisory board.

There are reports of infighting among members of the founding families of the companies. Sounds like Family Feud on a higher plateau, and presents issues that GM, Ford, and America could only dream of having right now. With VW and Porsche both producing outstanding vehicles, the American consumer shouldn't be too concerned either way. Unless Porsche adds an additional turbo to the 2.0T and slaps a $100,000-plus sticker at the top of the monroney.--Colin Mathews, photo by Basheertome

Posted in : 2008, Europe, Industry News, Porsche, Volkswagen

2010 Porsche Panamera–First Official Photo

By Marty Padgett September 15th, 2008

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Porsche has revealed the first production photo of the 2010 Panamera sedan, but you'll have to get a Lasik tuneup to get much out of the first official shot.

This photo shows the new sedan's front end from the wheel forward, accompanied by the briefest of releases that play up a new online magazine for Panamera enthusiasts and possible owners. The site will include videos of the Panamera Granturismo on test drives (cloaked in spy-photo gear), and will include many ways for Porsche to sidle up next to potential buyers.

Porsche promises full photography by the end of the year on the Panamera, which will be built in Leipzig, Germany. The Panamera goes on sale next fall.

Posted in : 2010, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche

2010 Porsche Cayenne Heads for Transsyberia

By Marty Padgett September 8th, 2008

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Porsche says the Cayenne SUV gets a new edition for the 2010 model year, and it's inspired by a trans-Russian rally.

The 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia shows up at dealer next spring, derived in part from the racing trucks that ply a 4,400-mile route across Russia and Mongolia every spring for two weeks. Porsche's won the race three times in a row--hence this edition, which gets the Cayenne GTS' 405-horsepower, direct-injection V-8 and six-speed automatic transmission.

The Transsyberia Cayennes also will be outfitted with an air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and permanent all-wheel drive. Four colors are in the available palette, with contrasting highlights. Steel skid plates, 18-inch wheels and other off-road details are standard, while an off-road package with a locking rear differential is offered.

The base price of the new Transsyberia is $70,800, and only 600 copies are coming to North America, Porsche says.

Posted in : 2010, Porsche, Sport-Utility Vehicles

Porsche Lets You Drive 911–Online

By Marty Padgett September 3rd, 2008

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2007 Porsche Cayman 2dr Cpe exterior front left

For those of you who might never get the chance to drive a new Porsche 911, there's an ersatz experience available now online. Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) says with its latest refresh, it's enabled visitors to their site to draw their own roads and then "drive" on the virtual asphalt they've created.

Like lots of other manufacturer sites, Porsche's own Web home now lets oglers re-skin a car in all of its optional colors and view it from all angles in a 360-degree spin, so that those fantasies can take on a Technicolor hue.

The next stop in that fantasy is an immersive experience that turns the user's cursor into a wax pen that enables drawing of a three-dimensional road course on the page. When the new track is "saved," a fully-rendered silver 911 "drives" the course that's been created.

It's not as exciting as some online experiences we've had, but that's none of your business. While you diddle around on their site, check out our full reviews of the whole Porsche lineup, including the 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars.

Posted in : 2009, Advertising/Marketing, Porsche

Spy Shots: 2010 Porsche Panamera

By Marty Padgett August 20th, 2008

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The 2010 Porsche Panamera has finally dropped some of its disguise, giving us a better look at some of the true styling nuances destined for the radical new Porsche.

For the first time we can see the proper hood sculpting and an almost completely clean look at the character development on the Panamera's side panels--including the fender vent just aft of the front wheel. A little cladding still remains on the front bumper, on the rear flanks below the taillights, and on the taillights themselves. Some minor tape effects also remain, but do nothing to obscure the car's shape. Other than that, this Panamera prototype looks to be running around naked, finally embracing its birthday suit.

The Panamera will have a choice of three front-mounted engines when it finally bows. The entry-level powerplant will be a VW six-cylinder with more than 300 hp. Porsche's own V-8s with 350 hp and 560 hp are expected, the latter with twin turbos.

There will also be a hybrid version, which will share its gas-electric running gear with the Cayenne Hybrid, which was introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles auto show. Porsche promises a 30 percent boost in fuel economy with the hybrid technology. To achieve better weight balance, the Panamera Hybrid will stow its battery under the cargo floor, and the clutch and electric motor will live between the engine and transmission. And to keep efficiency high, the hybrid will be able to run in gas-only, electric-only, or in combined gas-electric mode.

When it hits the road in 2009, Porsche plans to sell 20,000 Panameras annually, which could push it over the company-wide number of 100,000 cars per year.

We expect the Panamera to make its world debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show.