The sharing of Porsche platforms could see the Benley Conti and Panamera using the same underpinnings.
Porsche boss Michael Macht has said that Porsche will now be sharing its platforms with others in the VW group.
Porsche boss Michael Macht has revealed that now Porsche are effectively a VW company the sharing of platforms is not just viable but essential. And the man has a point. What company in its right mind would not spread the cost of developing a platform across as wide a range of models as possible? And how will that undermine the Porsche brand? Although that’s what will be cried from the rooftops.
Macht has made it clear that platform sharing is as far as the brotherly love will extend. No one else is going to get their hands on Porsche’s engines – a “Core Value” according to Macht. Which all makes perfect sense. It’s the engines that define Porsche not the platforms – although they are important. But that hasn’t stopped Porsche using a platform shared with the Q7 and the Touareg on the Cayenne. And Porsche aren’t too precious about dumping a non-Porsche engine in one of their cars. The 924 used a VW engine and an Audi ‘box (although the 944 used a Porsche engine that was effectively half the V8 from the 928) and the Cayenne V6 uses a VW/Audi lump.
Sharing the Porsche stock of platforms does raise some interesting prospects. Will the next generation Bentley Continental make use of the Panamera’s chassis? Will the VW Bluesport Roadster arrive with a Boxster platform? The next R8 and 911 sharing underpinnings? Anything is possible.
If it gives us better cars and a wider selection, who cares?
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