New Porsche Passat...

.... only not as quick.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...99742/New-V6-engine-for-Porsche-Panamera.html

 

Cripes that's ugly, it looks like somebody stick a 911 bonnet and
grille on a Rover SD1.

 

I parked next to one of them at the John Radcliffe hospital the other
day, nevre seen one in the flesh before, it's a *huge* car, the
pictures don't really convey that.

 

manufacturers/porsche/7299742/New-V6-engine-for-Porsche-Panamera.html

but it doesn't look like something a geography teacher would drive

 

FOYFF.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...99742/New-V6-engine-for-Porsche-Panamera.html

I was pondering these, and others just the other day after a BMW
5-series GT went past me.

Now, how long does it take to get a car from an initial design to
road-going production? Years, yes?

So, in that case, how come so many similar cars[1] have all come along
in the space of a few months? Are moles rife in the autmotive design
industry?

[1] i.e. prestige, 5 door saloons: 5 series GT, A5, Panamera, Aston
Martin Rapide.

 

They saw each other's concept cars.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I saw the 5 Ser GT t'other day and thought it very nice. If I wanted a
biggish car that might be it. The Panamera is a stupid thing for Porsche to
have done IMHO, as is the Cayman. They risk spoiling the brand and hitting
the residuals. Reliability, initial price and residuals are the key to the
Porker brand.

They should have put all that effort into refining the Cayenne into
something better looking and more fuel efficient, the Boxter, Carerra and
Cayenne are a perfect range.

VAG are probably stupid enough to consider a diesel Panamera.

Curiously I think they are missing one really cute market corner that they
could shine in. Something between a Merc A Class and a Smart. But with the
sort of performance people get from a Hyabusa engine Smart and some
seriously good handling. Great looking with a FO Porker badge on the front,
40mpg and about £30k. A certain class of people would fall over themselves.

 

I presume you mean the Cayenne, rather than the Cayman? After all, that's
just a Boxy-wivva-roof, whilst the Cayenne's a straight rebadge of a VW
built in a VW factory. Still - it's by far and away their biggest
seller...

 

No I said it as I meant it. The Cayman is an expensive POS 911 wannabe,
reflected by how many of them you see on the road. The upper end Cayenne
models go like nothing that size should and are a huge seller.

 

But it's just a Boxy with a roof. No more, no less.

Is that why most of the ones I see about seem to be the dog slow v6 "non-
S", and why they also flog the v6 TDi?

 

That it isn't. Rather more like a cut down 911 in terms of parts, interior
and rear shelf, and properly specc'd OTR fucking expensive. I look at them
and think "so you couldn't stretch to a 911 and were too dim to find a
preloved Carerra".

The Boxter is peerless in what it is.

I intended to say the Cayenne generally is a huge seller.

 

What, like Aston Martin are doing with their version of the Toyota iQ
at £30k?

 

Except the Aston Cygnet won't have any mechanical upgrade over the bog-
standard Toyota three-pot.

 

So what does one get for the extra £20k, apart from a new grille?

 

A dead calf or three, a bit of tree, and - most importantly - pub
bragging rights.

 

heh, of course.

Leather is an option on the iQ anyway, though I suspect it's not quite
the same quality. Plus, the Cygnet is only going to be available to
existing AM owners, so I guess it's just a runaround for the wife.

 

Still a POS.
I want something wiv a Porker badge and a Hyabusa turbo under the floor pan.

Where Porsche could have gone as an independant was down the micro
turbine/electric hybrid. There is a seriously FRO fast tree hugging
opportunity there for a manufacturer with balls. Under VAG and with a
mountain of new debt it ain't going to happen.

www.capstoneturbine.com/news/story.asp?id=536

 

Modern day SD1....

 

ginge took a blunt brush and painted...

They are strange cars.

I've only seen a couple of photos where they look good, but in the flesh they
look a lot better.

Can't explain it (and it's not like I want one either)