Porsche, Audi To Collaborate On Cayman/Boxster, R4; R6, R10 also expected
07/02/2007, 11:14 AM
By Andrew Ganz
Porsche has reached an agreement to join forces with fellow German Audi to develop the next-generation mid-engined Cayman and Boxster. Audi will get its own version called R4, an entry-level mid-engined coupe and roadster. While rumors about an R4 broke months ago, its connection to the next-gen Boxster was not known.
According to Car, Audi intends to have a full line of R-model cars: starting at the top with an R10 supercar, based on the Le Mans-winning TDI diesel supercar; the R8 (including a convertible variant of the next generation model); an R6 priced, powered and sized between Porsche’s 991 and Cayman/Boxster; and the aforementioned entry-level R4.
The next-generation Cayman and Boxster are known internally as Project 981 and they are due in 2010 or 2011. The Audi variants are expected to differ from the Porsches by offering forced-induction four- and five-cylinder engines with quattro four wheel drive. The Porsches will retain the current rear wheel drive and boxer six-cylinder engine configuration.
The two vehicles are not expected to share any styling elements, although they are likely to get the same dual-clutch DSG transmission and light weight aluminum space frames.
What the R4 means to Audi’s freshly-redesigned TT coupe and convertible is uncertain. The TT is a front- or all-wheel drive sports car based on a much more mundane platform. The TT also keeps its motor in the front, not behind the seats. To an enthusiast, the two cars are night-and-day; but to the general buying public, the TT and R4 certainly look like internal competition.
07/02, 11:51 AM
posted by:
Syrax
i can take R8 and R4 replacing the TT, but R6 and R10 would left audi more cluttered than they can get
07/02, 12:16 PM
posted by:
Piablo
Who says the middle class is getting smaller?!
The Caymen grows on me more and more every time I see one. Very nice car. I’m curious to see what an Audi treatment will do to it. I suppose the Audi will have a nicer paint job, but the Porsche will be the performance leader.
07/02, 1:11 PM
posted by:
Scarface03
This is curious. I can see the Toureg/Cayenne collaboration, because, although they’re both SUVs, the price points keep the VW buyers from cross-shopping Porsches. But if the R6 will slot between the Cayman and 911, the R4 will likely equal or undercut the Cayman. And Audi is no VW, so an Audi-engineered, premium German brand mid-engined coupe that is cheaper than the Cayman might steal some Cayman sales. I’ll be curious to see how this shapes up.
Of course, maybe what Porsche is really concerned about is further cutting costs, to do what it can to further its march into the profit stratosphere, or maybe Porsche just has its eye on the dual clutch transimission, which is evidently very expensive to engineer, and didn’t reach production-ready status for the Carrera GT or 997 Turbo.
07/02, 1:13 PM
posted by:
Veda
Yea why bother with the TT anymore. It’ll probably be axed once the R4 comes out, either that or they keep the name and ignore the R4 gimmick. The funny thing is I’d actually get the R4 instead of the Cayman simply due to quattro and turbo. Cheaper, probably perform just as good and will look more modern than the boring all-porsche look.
07/02, 2:18 PM
posted by:
meanpants555
In that same issue of ‘Car’ the Audi R8 dethroned the Porsche Carrera as king of the sports cars. They said the R8 is on another level on all levels. My gut says this will hurt Porsche and benefit Audi.
This whole car at every price point reeks of Ferdinand Piech, which is how we got the splendid and succesful Volkswagen Phaeton.
07/02, 3:16 PM
posted by:
LP640
the phaeton wasnt succesful meanpants, i think Audi are going a bit crazy with the whole R thing
07/02, 3:17 PM
posted by:
shahedc
FYI, I found this on Wikipedia about Ferdinand Piëch :
“Ferdinand Karl Piëch (April 17, 1937 in Vienna, Austria) is an automobile engineer and manager. He is a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and son of Louise Piëch, the sister of Ferry Porsche. He has thirteen children from four women.”
He’s a 70-year old descendant of Mr. Porsche, and has 13 kids. Doesn’t quite fit the profile of a typical Porsche guy.
Well, he did win the Car Exec of the Century award in 1999 and pushed for the Veyron, but he was also behind the (doomed?) Phaeton.
So you all (consumers) can decide which of his cars you want (or not)…
~shahedc
.
07/02, 4:25 PM
posted by:
meanpants555
Oh, I know. I’ve seen one Phaeton on the road and it looked more like a well put together Buick.
Piech has many wonderful qualities, others are not so nice.
07/02, 8:31 PM
posted by:
Sharif
just hope Audi doesn’t do what Benz did by having like 12 different models with 6 different variants to each model. But then again i would enjoy choosing from wide selection of just Audi’s
07/02, 9:05 PM
posted by:
Veda
shahedc, if it’s sportier than 99.9% of the cars on the road, I’d take his cars anytime. Besides, in US guts decides the winner, not the cars.
07/02, 9:24 PM
posted by:
JpR8
as long as its a fair partnership between porsche and audi i see this a great thing. this could give BMW a lot of competition to handle as well as MB.
07/02, 9:31 PM
posted by:
kool_aje
We all know that Porsche and Audi are VW’s kids, so Audi and Porsche are brothers. And brothers help each other
07/03, 5:18 AM
posted by:
sunshine1810
Audi one of my favorite car companies mixing with Porsche doesn’t sound like a bad thing for Audi. The question is what does Porsche get out of the deal? Shared platforms and modified engines. Based on Audi aggressive new car line up, I think Audi has a very bright future. With the help of Porsche, it can only get better.
02/22, 12:22 PM
posted by:
conceptupdate
IF Audi will build an Turbo/Quattro Roadster and Coupe then VW should offer a lighter, less expensive RWD version. Enthusiast could use an inexpensive MR roadster, maybe one that looks like the Concept R of 2003. The look is still fresh and it falls in line with VW’s current line up.