Porsche's Nod To Heritage

by Edward Niedermeyer

September 22nd, 2010 11:36 AM

No, not the silly humpbacked 911. That’s just Porsche’s latest wallet-lightening technology. Porsche’s nod to heritage is in the fact that it’s building only 356 of these 911 “Speedsters.” Because, you see, the first Porsche Speedsters were based on the Porsche 356. Oh yes, and by limiting an “exclusive” to a few hundred units means Porsche can charge $204,000 for a 408 HP 911. Which, after all, is actually the more significant nod to Porsche heritage: the 911-based Speedsters, which arose in the cocaine and yuppie-fueled 80s, have long been a high point in Porsche’s proud tradition of charging silly money for ever-so garish “special editions.” Doesn’t heritage just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

#911 #Branding #Design #Heritage #Luxury #Marketing #Porsche

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6 of 19 comments

Ivo Kuusik on Sep 22, 2010

LOL "wallet-lightening technology"

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Ccd1 on Sep 22, 2010

The cynical nature of Porsche's pricing makes your wonder how far they can push things before the market pushes back. Sales of Cayman/Boxsters suggests they may be at that point in the US with these cars which makes their plans to push these cars upmarket VERY interesting

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- ChuckR on Sep 22, 2010
  
  NORAD at Quonset Point RI is projecting processing 11000 porkers through the port in the next year. Wonder how many will be Panameras and Cayennes? Not too many Cayman/Boxsters sold here although with foreign market nosebleed pricing I guess they do OK elsewhere as any car is a lot more of a reach. For the GTs (911s) and sports cars (Cayman/Boxster) I think they need to reemphasize engineering. 1)no more surprises when you track the cars or use them as meant on the street - IMS failures for example, or cooked power steering 2)better quality engine parts - Carillo-grade forged rods and pistons for example - ditto for suspension and transmission 3)a real torque biasing LSD - the one they have assumes you won't really use it 4)better grade interior - lots of owners grouse about this 5)but continue to de-emphasize fripperies - the car should be entertaining enough without fancy Nav systems and other electronic crap
  
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- Morea on Sep 22, 2010
  
  It's not the high priced poseur special editions that bother me, its the technical problems like IMS failures, oil cooler hoses blowing off, thin brake rotors, and the like that signals Porsche's fall from grace. That, and the lack of prototype sports car racing. Audi hold that position in the VAG, so no more 917s or 962s. Selling pimp mobiles to fund racing was cool, selling pimp mobiles to build a financial empire to buy VW is sad. (And failing to do it sadder still.)
  
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Werewolf34 on Sep 22, 2010

Maybe I can undercut the market by offering the porsche exclusive value pack - For $200k, you get a Porsche 911S and a t-shirt that says "My 911 cost more than your 911'

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Niky on Sep 22, 2010

Why do I want the hunchback of Notre Dame instead of a GT3RS?

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