[T Bone]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080427/germa...sche.html?.v=2

^^ This part is serious

Here is an excerpt of the recordings (this part is not):

Unknown Speaker: Herr Wiedeking, how will Porsche innovate the 911 lineup?
Mr. Wiedeking: There is no need to update the 911. It is perfect, engine in the rear, no crash protection, 6 cylinder in a world of V8s. We can continue to work around the handling problems. The 911 customer is not typical of other sportscar buyers....they will buy whatever we produce! Npw, let's just go over the marketing messages on why the 911 is state-of-the-art! Let's look at the 998 final prototype.....who wants to start?

[Krueger///M3]

Interesting but I don't think that 911s are at all related to the beetle. (Even though they share the Turbo S label) Check out my old 1999 Carrera with GT3 body kit, does this look like a beetle?

[Zeiss]

New pair of running shoes for 2009

[footie]

I see TB's point but all successful brands stick closely to their basic design and generally don't change to much between models, like at the 3 series and the Audi TT and Corvette are just three designs which has evolved.

And rightly so.

whats funny is that their 6 cylinder can keep up and even beat SOME cars with bigger engines.

[vAnt826]

Originally Posted by nico335

whats funny is that their 6 cylinder can keep up and even beat SOME cars with bigger engines.

Looking at just cylinders is pointless.

We could say the same for the STi (or Elise), which out accelerates the Cayman S with the 6.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by footie

I see TB's point but all successful brands stick closely to their basic design and generally don't change to much between models, like at the 3 series and the Audi TT and Corvette are just three designs which has evolved.

And rightly so.

Sometimes brands need a new identity. I would love for the 911 to be mean V8 mid-engine, instead of a fast beetle from the 1930s

[Buffalo_Bush]

Originally Posted by T Bone

Sometimes brands need a new identity. I would love for the 911 to be mean V8 mid-engine, instead of a fast beetle from the 1930s

a lot of people feel that they need to change the 911 because the 6 cylinder is becoming small by many standard and that the design and layout aren't that great. i think they should make a newer model that is separate from the 911 that utilizes and mid mounded engine, be it v8 or turbo'd 6.

[pdjafari]

^^isnt that what the carrera GT is all about??

[Year's_End]

Just have them change the damn design a little. Please.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by pdjafari

^^isnt that what the carrera GT is all about??

For the several hundred that are out on the market.....

The 911 platform is old and stale....needs a new life.

Originally Posted by vAnt826

Looking at just cylinders is pointless.

We could say the same for the STi (or Elise), which out accelerates the Cayman S with the 6.

just said it because it seemed T Bone was under-estimating them

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by nico335

just said it because it seemed T Bone was under-estimating them

Actually comparing EVO / STI vs. 335i, the 335i is significant faster because of a flat torque curve.... raw hp is not issue, it is the area under the curve.

How much bigger can you make a flat 6?? To stay competitive in HP and linear torque deliver (without going to turbo across the board), Porsche needs at least a 4.0 liter displacement which means a V8....

Rear Engine = dead end
6 cylinder = dead end for a sportscar

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by T Bone

Actually comparing EVO / STI vs. 335i, the 335i is significant faster because of a flat torque curve.... raw hp is not issue, it is the area under the curve.

How much bigger can you make a flat 6?? To stay competitive in HP and linear torque deliver (without going to turbo across the board), Porsche needs at least a 4.0 liter displacement which means a V8....

Rear Engine = dead end
6 cylinder = dead end for a sportscar

+1

Although they can still experiment with FI to see how much more they can get out of their flat six's.