has porsche lost its direction?

Answer 1

Depends on just what you consider their direction to be or to have been? If you look across the board at Porsche's current activities, you'll find they have a couple very successful GT class race cars and a successful Prototype as well which they are now offering as a customer car. They are offering a variety of 911 models ranging from a base carrera upto the GT3RS and Turbo models, with a new GT2 planned for next year. And they are offering their most compelling entry level models in a long time with the 987 Boxster and the Cayman! And add to that the recent production of the Carrera GT and the number of manufacturing patents that came about from it's design!

If you want to compare to any previous "glory" period for the company, you'd be hard pressed to find a period with similar across the board success. Adding into this is a solid plan for company growth and expansion to product lines that typically do not vary as much with economic downturns? Where's the complaint?

Ok, I do know where the complaint is: 1) The car's are no longer hand built. 2) They don't have an overall Le Mans win for a number of year's. 3) They are building things other than just sports cars. 4) The 911 is no longer air cooled... did I forget any? The fact is with just about all of these, the question would be to continue as things were and go out of business, or to change. It was no longer practical to build the cars by hand or use the number of unshared parts (though I do wish all the models were still true dry sumps). Water cooling was needed if they were to be able to continue to meet emissions requirements. They have continued to be successful in racing, but have committed smaller budgets and been more careful about choosing where and when to compete. And the addition of non-sports cars is a key part of their growth plan... and, if you remember the Porsche Junior, it's hardly new that they are producing a non-sports car either.

People complained about Porsche loosing it's way when they introduced the 911 and switched to a 6 cylinder powerplant. People complained Porsche lost their way when they introduced mid-engined cars in the 1960s. People complained Porsche had lost their way when they introduced the Turbos and they heavier chasis that came with them. People complained when... well, pick your event, some fans have complained just about everything at one time on another. All in all, it seems like they are keeping a similar direction as they always have.

Answer 2

Are you concerned about Porsche making SUV's and the impending 4 door sedan? I have worked in automotive design for 30 years and I was worried about their timing when they came out with an SUV during a gasoline price hike but they seem to be selling even now.

As far as the 4 door sedan is concerned I think it is a logical evolution of their product line. They have done a remarkable job of keeping the variations of the 911 updated and marketable, but Porsche, like everything else, needs to grow or it dies, so a sedan is a great product line to add. BMW and MB do a great job selling performance sedans so there is a market for them.

Answer 3

To some purist's yes! They want a 911 or nothing else! But they are extremly profitable and have great success with the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne. They made enough profit to buy a big share of VW. The new sedan is ruffling feathers already, but it is where they need to be in the market place to compete with Aston Martin.