PARIS SHOW: Porsche GTI, VW Boxster?

2010 PARIS MOTOR SHOW NEWS SPECIAL

Volkswagen's takeover of Porsche could see both brands selling vehicles they once never considered possible. Indeed, Porsche could end up with a hot hatch similar to a Golf GTI or a baby SUV similar to the VW Tiguan – and VW and Audi could end up with mid-engined sports cars based on the Porsche Boxster.

Volkswagen is already on record saying it wants to grow Porsche's four-model line-up to five – and increase production from 100,000 to 150,000 cars per year.

Volkwsagen board member Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, who addressed Australian media at a briefing prior to the Paris motor show this week, said both companies were yet to decide which models they would share – but admitted sharing cars and technology was likely.

"There is a huge potential to create cars we once never thought possible," he said.

"For both companies there is a big benefit.

"We have the possibility to grow with new cars that may fit to the philosophy of Porsche, and on the other hand we can look at which Porsche technologies we can use for our other brands."

However, Dr Hackenberg warned, it would not come at the expense of Porsche's prestige brand image.

"Porsche's image is its most valuable asset and we would not harm it in any way," he said.

"The character of the Porsche brand is a very wealthy item. The strength of Porsche is the image … we never would do something against the brand because it's the biggest wealth of Porsche."

Hackenberg said for that reason most of the car sharing initially would be "parts the customer cannot see".

"Climate systems, electronics, steering columns, seat frames, whatever… we are buying those parts in very big volume," he said. "For Porsche it's a very good benefit to join our parts supply and we can help with a lot of things that the customer doesn't see or feel."

But Hackenberg said the sharing would soon extend beyond technology.

"I can see co-operation on both sides, not just the chassis and parts. We already have the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg since 2002 with a different character while using common technology, and there is no reason we can't continue this."

But, he said, "there always has to be differences".

He said it would be a "little too early" to go into details about the possibility of a Porsche version of a Golf GTI or compact SUV, but such an idea was not impossible.

"Maybe not the Golf GTI for Porsche because it is front-drive, but Golf R is all-wheel-drive. From the character of the car… I could imagine that the chassis or the parts [from a Golf R] could make up another kind of car for Porsche."

Meanwhile, he said, the Porsche Boxster mid-engined sports car layout could be used for Audi and Volkswagen.

"I believe we can create something that is usable for all three companies. The Volkswagen Blue Sport Concept mid engine car is a concept … with which we are thinking about integrating some knowledge of our new sister, Porsche. There is no decision for a project, but we are working on that."

He said a Boxster-based sports car would not replace the Audi TT (a car created by Dr Hackenberg in his former engineering role) rather it would be sold in addition to that model.

"I have made the concept of the TT and I will fight for this concept and it is absolutely right. Two plus two small seats and a big rear door."

When asked if Porsche had a say in whether or not Volkswagen and Audi can use the Boxster underpinnings and engines, Hackenberg said: "Those decisions are made by our committees and every new vehicle has to be proved by feasibility studies.

"Porsche has the ability to look at our components to decide if they want to make a model, and we have the same ability to look at Porsche components."

After Porsche's failed takeover attempt of Volkswagen in 2008 – at one point it held more than a 50 per cent stake in the company – a massive shakeup brought about by the global financial crisis means that Volkswagen now owns 49.9 per cent shares of Porsche.

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