Porsche’s modern-day 914 was thought to have already received the production nod from the German automaker, but a new report reveals no entry-level Porsche is currently in the pipeline. The baby Porsche roadster would have been based on Volkswagen’s Bluesport concept.
In a recent interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Porsche r&d head Wolfgang Dürheimer revealed the German automaker has no plans to launch a new entry-level model. Dürheimer cited the current economic climate and Porsche’s desire to remain an up-scale brand as the reason to forgo the Bluesport-based model.
The news of Porsche’s cancelled entry-level roadster plans throws in doubt the future of the Bluesport concept altogether. In order to make the baby roadster financially viable, VW needed both Porsche and Audi to be onboard. However, now that Porsche has jumped ship on the project, it remains to be seen if VW can rework the Bluesport’s numbers for just two brands.
05/13, 5:34 PM
posted by:
A4
Porsche if you screw this up for VW and Audi im going to take a bat to the first dealer of yours I see, which happens to be right around the corner.
05/13, 5:39 PM
posted by:
b53491
Isn’t VW the entry level Porsche now?
05/13, 5:49 PM
posted by:
aesir
Hmmm, as a previous Porsche owner I commend them for staying out of the entry level arena. Besides if you want a cheap Porsche just buy a used Boxster.
05/13, 6:03 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
A4, I sympathize, but I have little doubt yours will be last lament of a similar nature.
05/13, 6:15 PM
posted by:
save saab
or you can buy an old 924, 944, or 968.
05/13, 6:29 PM
posted by:
A4
Yeah, they really stayed out of the “entry level” arena with an anemic volkswagen V6 in a heavy SUV that looks like a retarded frog.
05/13, 6:30 PM
posted by:
A4
the only way they manage to stay out of being “entry level” is with their $28,000 profit margins.
05/13, 6:57 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
To me, this looks like a back door way for Porsche to kill the Bluesport Roadster…so it doesn’t cannabalize Boxster sales . If Volkswagen cannot amortize the cost of developing this platform by offering it under several brands (think Touareg, Cayenne, Q7) the whole idea will probably go down the tubes. I hate Porsche…really, really badly.
05/13, 7:00 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
Ooops, I guess I should have read the whole article before commenting. But weather I say it, or LLN says it…the truth is obvious.
05/13, 7:51 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Porsche – How dare you stop my dream of a modern day 914!!! I hope this story is just wrong and we have a retraction tommorow. I hope.
05/13, 8:22 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
That was close- Now you own most of VW, so why don’t you focus on doing some crazy stuff like a Carrera GT RS or some 911 Turbo GT. I dunno… surprise us!
05/13, 9:06 PM
posted by:
928dreamer
I don’t know. If Porsche is denying that they are going to build it, it is probably well into the planning stages and will actually get built.
05/13, 9:46 PM
posted by:
jandrews90
I really want the VW Bluesport Roadster to come to fruition, I just don’t understand why they think they need 3 brands to carry one model just to make a profit? Wouldn’t a VW and Audi version be enough??? Maybe even a Seat? Like is it just because people are so connected to certain brands? Like the VW version would be almost the same as the porsche, so if you really wanted the porsche, you’d only be buying it for the badge anyways right?
05/14, 1:53 AM
posted by:
AU_354
928dreamer, you are probably right! Porsche originally denied the cayman S, then the base cayman, cayenne, diesel and several others! Hope you are right, because I would run to my local dealer the second it’s announced officially for a deposit!
05/14, 2:33 AM
posted by:
No more oil for GM
audi is the enry-level hausfrau car..
05/14, 5:29 AM
posted by:
SomeGreek
@jandrews90
Totally agree!
Good desicion by Porsche. Rebadging a car is always a bad idea.
05/14, 10:44 AM
posted by:
Borat
914 was labeled Porsche only in US and Canada. In Europe, it was VW. What there to complaint about that Porsche does not want to cheapen marquee? I don’t see cheap Lambo’s and nobody seems to be complaining.
05/14, 5:09 PM
posted by:
fan
@ borat: no quite true.
there were two versions being sold of the 914, a 4cylinder version, that was sold as a volkswagen, and a 6-cyl version that was sold as a porsche. matter of fact, the 4cyl never got to the US.
on the headline “no entry level porsche” – may i remind you of mr. wiedeking stating that there would NEVER, EVER, EVER, be something like a Diesel-Powered Porsche? Cayenne Diesel anyone? selling big in Europe, btw…
now, back then, they stated it would never happen. it happened within less than 4 years after denying it..
… here, theyre just stating “nothing like an entry model is on the way”… wait to see how long it will take them to label THAT statement a lie… (or, to put it more nicely… to change their mind…)
basically, this could even mean “were planning one, but its far from shipping yet”
05/15, 2:51 AM
posted by:
fan
plus, let me add on the lambo comment: the DID cheapen down, although, in the price region their product was in, cheapening down still not means cheap i guess… remember how the community was howling in pain when they introduced the Gallardo? how it was sacrilegous to build a lambo that was not top of the list, but rather competing in a price range where the average 911 can be?