VW, Audi, Porsche merger Info - Dec 13, 2010
12-27-2010, 09:24 PM
#1
Audi Forum - Posts like an HORCH
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Burlington, Ontario
Posts: 2,719
VW, Audi, Porsche merger Info - Dec 13, 2010
After months of uncertainty, Porsche officials -- and Porsche purists, for that matter -- have received some good news from Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. Porsche will take the lead in developing sports cars and big luxury sedans for the VW group.
The news was a blow to Audi, which had lobbied for the role. Instead, Porsche will develop VW's so-called "modular standard matrix" that will be the basis for the Porsche Panamera and future Bentley models. The Stuttgart carmaker also will be responsible for platforms for front-mid-engine and rear-mid-engine sports cars for Porsche, Audi and Lamborghini.
VW initially wanted Porsche to use a VW-developed architecture for cars such as the 911 -- an idea strongly resisted by Porsche engineers. They feared VW underpinnings would not have the stiff handling for which Porsches are renowned.
"This is a brilliant solution," says Christoph Stuermer, an IHS Global Insight automotive analyst. "Porsche gets the chance to develop VW's sports car architecture to its standards, but VW gets closer control of Porsche's engineering."
Audi will continue to develop VW group's so-called "modular longitudinal matrix," which is the basis for cars such as the Audi A4, A5 and Q5.
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#ixzz19NCC7sWY
The news was a blow to Audi, which had lobbied for the role. Instead, Porsche will develop VW's so-called "modular standard matrix" that will be the basis for the Porsche Panamera and future Bentley models. The Stuttgart carmaker also will be responsible for platforms for front-mid-engine and rear-mid-engine sports cars for Porsche, Audi and Lamborghini.
VW initially wanted Porsche to use a VW-developed architecture for cars such as the 911 -- an idea strongly resisted by Porsche engineers. They feared VW underpinnings would not have the stiff handling for which Porsches are renowned.
"This is a brilliant solution," says Christoph Stuermer, an IHS Global Insight automotive analyst. "Porsche gets the chance to develop VW's sports car architecture to its standards, but VW gets closer control of Porsche's engineering."
Audi will continue to develop VW group's so-called "modular longitudinal matrix," which is the basis for cars such as the Audi A4, A5 and Q5.
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#ixzz19NCC7sWY
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
