interesting...

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/content/11387287141723150300/index.php

Quote :

"31 January 2006 By Robert Farago Porsche is my favorite automotive brand for one reason: they make my favorite sports car. They do not, however, make my favorite SUV. Infiniti’s FX45 is more fun to drive, Land Rover’s LR3 is more capable, the Land Rover is more luxurious and when it comes to carrying a crew, Lincoln’s Blingigator is the bomb. Sure, the Cayenne Turbo is the world’s fastest SUV. And? Aside from dubious relevance, I reckon the debut of the glacial V6 Cayenne cancels-out the accomplishment. But the worst thing about the Cayenne is that it’s subsidized Porsche’s plan to take over Volkswagen. This morning, Porsche AG announced it will raise its stake in the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG) from five to 20 percent. So much for the Sultans of Stuttgart’s claim that they were buying VW stock to ensure access to parts and platforms for future Porsche models. The real motivation behind Porsche's land grab is the same as it ever was: power. More specifically, Porsche’s Machiavellian machinations are a real world version of one of those Jeffery Archer-style family sagas, involving genetics, greed and history. Just for fun, here’s the plot line: Ferdinand Porsche made his bones building the “people’s car” for the Nazis. As the head of VW, the German engineer deployed his considerable design and manufacturing skills to build tanks and other weaponry for the Nazi war effort. After the war, the Allies stripped Herr Porsche of his power within VW (it might have had something to do with Ferdy’s reliance on slave labor). Aided by his son Ferry, financed by a royalty on the Beetle, Ferdinand founded the sports car company that bears his name. Fast forward fifty years... Following a few decades of Porsche ups and downs and some maneuverings over at Vee Dub, Ferry Porsche’s nephew Ferdinand Piech ascended to the Chairmanship of VAG’s Board of Directors. And there he stayed, inflicting his autocratic style on the mammoth conglomerate, gathering car brands like a 5th Avenue matron collects Manolo Blahniks, watching VW’s US market share swirl ‘round the toilet. Two weeks ago, after 13 years at the helm, Piech finally agreed to step down. Not so coincidentally, his decision cleared the way for today's news: Porsche to assume two seats on VW’s board. The effect of all this Dallas-style plotting on VW is not my main concern. Piech’s plans for world dominance-- such as matching Mercedes model for model-- hasn’t exactly turned out as planned. (Phaeton anyone?) Now that slave labor isn’t the done thing, I’m happy letting the free market determine the wisdom of a Porsche-controlled VAG. But I am worried about the fate of the Porsche brand. What will happen to my preferred sports car provider as it becomes more and more deeply enmeshed in VAG politics? In fact, Porsche has already sacrificed its soul to its corporate ambitions. Lest we forget, the Cayenne was originally “sold” to skeptical Porsche-files as a way for the company to fund development of future sports cars-- a story which now has a very different ending. Indeed, if the Porsche family’s hunger to reclaim Ferdy’s legacy wasn’t so strong, would the Cayenne have even been built? Given that Porsche’s SUV was developed in close cooperation with VW, given that the same will apply to the forthcoming Panamera, it’s clear that this Porsche - VW nexus is already heavily influencing the type and character of Porsche’s products. Where will it stop? Lest we forget, VAG’s Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti brands were once independent, high-end automakers. Setting aside questions about significant product overlap (an issue which has not troubled VAG since it began its buying binge), why wouldn’t a Porsche-controlled VW simply add Porsche to their corporate portfolio? Members of the Porsche clan who own shares in the family firm would become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams-- unless, of course, this has been their dream all along. Porsche’s loss of independence would not be in the sports car lover’s best interest (a sentiment Porsche has been expressing for as long as I can remember). As part of VAG, any decision regarding Porsche’s product development would have to be made in relation to the rest of the group’s needs, within the context of the existing bureaucracy. In other words, Porsche’s design, engineering and marketing choices would be controlled by, gulp, committees. What's worse, Porsche’s current path away from highly-focused manufacturer of sports cars, towards performance-oriented multi-genre automaker, would surely continue. I firmly believe that Porsche should make the world’s best sports car, and that’s it. (Note: car, not cars.) I find it incredibly sad that the one of the few automakers that never lost its focus, has. As far as the enthusiast community is concerned, Porsche's incestuous relationship with VW makes the Cayenne look even more like the beginning of the end. "

1/31/2006 5:31:00 PM

Definitely interesting. However, if the article's author thinks that "Porsche should make the world's best sports car...not [i]cars]/i]" then the company started losing focus in the early 70's when they brought the 914 to market alongside the 911/912. Does he actually see the 914, 914/6, 924, 928, 944, 968, Boxster, and Cayman all as needless "distractions" from the 911? If they're making the World's Best Sports Car, should they end-of-life the 911 and concentrate on Carrera GT production? While I can understand his concerns about Porsche getting added to the VAG stable, the last paragraph seems a bit overboard.

1/31/2006 5:37:38 PM

Quote :

"VAG politics"

indeed


i think porsche should have 5 cars

something 944 esque the 911s offered in 3 models gt3 gt2 and i think there should be a gt4 (awd)
the supercar, the boxster and the caymen both with better motors tho



[Edited on January 31, 2006 at 5:44 PM. Reason : .]

1/31/2006 5:40:38 PM

Cayenne owners are bitches.

1/31/2006 5:51:40 PM

yeah i know a douche nut in charlotte with a twinturbo.... i wanted to hit him

save your money buy a family car AND a sports car.

[Edited on January 31, 2006 at 6:19 PM. Reason : .]

1/31/2006 6:18:50 PM