Little was known about the sub-Boxster model Porsche was planning to produce. Some, like myself, saw it as a successor to Porsche’s 550 Spyder and 356. Others pointed to the parts sharing between Porsche, VW, and Audi, and saw the car as a successor to the dreadful 914. We may never know how good it may or may not have been however, since reports out of Germany say that Porsche is stalling its development.

Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller sat down with German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche to discuss the automaker’s future. When pressed about the 550 successor he stated, “Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche,” and that it would “dilute the brand image.” This reason is complete nonsense. He might have well said, “These are not the droids you are looking for.”

This statement is a smokescreen for Porsche’s true intentions. Porsche does not care about “brand image,” it cares about profits. Their history and brand image is only a means to squeeze out profit, not an inspirational launching point for new products as they would like you to believe. They are leveraging this pedigree in every way possible to reach 200,000 sales by 2014. Their sales numbers are a window to this strategy.

In a report by freelance analyst Timothy Cain, he shows that Cayenne sales alone account for 44.7 percent of total sales volume. The Panamera accounts for 24%. 68.7% of Porsche -a brand that touts its sporting image like a tween on Facebook with a new fake tan picture- makes their money selling SUVs and 4-door sedans to badge snobs. The 911 only sells 20% of their volume and is only around to salvage Porsche’s sporting history. Tellingly, the Boxster and Cayman account for 5% of sales.

As you can see, sports cars don’t sell in volumes for Porsche. This sub-Boxster would therefore not be very profitable, or sell in high volumes. However, they can’t just come out and say, “We are killing this sports car because it won’t make us richer.” No, that would tarnish “the aura” that Porsche has built up to sell products outside their traditional offerings. Instead, they do marketing gymnastics to show that a cheaper sports car will dilute the essence that is Porsche.

Now, Porsche is the pious protector of their own legacy. Look, they are killing off a product that goes against their sporting history. Look again, here’s a sepia toned motorsports video that shows the legacy that this small, sports car will supposedly tarnish. The horror. Thank Ferdinand that Porsche has the determination to stand up for the brand’s purity.

Now, look again, here’s a small SUV that will be made instead of a small sports car. This small SUV is the Cajun, and Muller goes on to state in the same interview that Porsche aims to sell 50,000 of them. The Cajun is a small crossover based off other VW and Audi products, like the Cayenne before it. What? You don’t remember seeing the footage of small SUVs racing in LeMans? You’re memory must be fuzzy, here’s a branded Tag Heuer to remind you how authentic we were back in the ’60s.

Of course, Porsche could not afford to offer only sports cars. Many know that Porsche was in dire financial straits without the Cayenne, and without it, may not be able to produce the crazy 911 variants they do make. However, Porsche has another thing coming if they think they can say they are protecting the brand by offering small SUV’s instead of sports cars. Be honest Porsche, you care about the money. Now if only there was a way to kill off that 911 and offer something that will really showcase Porsche’s brand history. Can the Cayenne be turned into a coupe easily?

Alongside the 911, it was easy to forget that the Porsche Boxster is also due for a refresh. Porsche has not forgotten about its enty-level sports car, though, and has delivered a brand new Boxster that is wider, lighter, and more powerful.

The 2013 Boxster can be distinguished at a glance by its newly refined exterior and interior. The exterior sports some flamboyant side scoops, new lights similar in shape to the 918 supercar concept, and an overall tightening of its appearance. The interior sports q center console inspired by the Panamera and better materials. Also, the car is slightly widened to increase interior volume. This redesign bodes especially well for the new Cayman as well since the Cayman is basically a Boxster with a roof.

On the mechanical side, the non-S Boxster get a horsepower bump to 265hp and the S models get an increase to 315hp. Both models recieve either a 6 speed manual transmission or a 7 speed PDK option. Weight has also been dropped by 77lbs.

Lighter, leaner, and meaner, the new Porsche Boxster sets its sights on driving out from under the 911′s shadow.

RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF : Shinji’s RWB 964 from Luke Huxham on Vimeo.

Last time, ACB featured the new 911, so it is only natural to bring you a video featuring an old one. For those unfamiliar with Rauh Welt, they are a Japanese tuning company that turns ordinary 911s into something that crawled out Tim Burton’s nightmares. Bear in mind, these cars aren’t trailer queens either. Many see daily driving duty and heavy track use. Enjoy.

Source: Vimeo

Yes this ad commits every cliche in the car advertisement handbook, but still, it features the new 911 up close and personal. If you can ignore the dramatic smoke, ariel shots, terrible new age music, and nary a whisper of why you should like the new 911, the ad is enjoyable. but seriously ad men, step up your game. Nothing about bad rock show special effects makes me want to buy a car.

Source: Youtube

Reports from British car magazine Autocar state that Porsche is inspired by the 550 Spyder for their newest sports car. This will be the new entry level Porsche, and slot in under the Boxster. The 500 Spyder is one of Porsche’s most iconic models, and was incredibly important in putting Porsche on the map with gentleman racers and celebrities, including James Dean, who died in one. Its successor was non other than the 911. It is a strong claim then to affix such a lofty target for the entry level Porsche.

Porsche boss Matthias Mueller goes on further to explain the type of engine we will see when this car debuts:

The Porsche is expected to be based on a new mid-engined aluminium and steel platform being developed by Audi which will also be used for the proposed Audi R4 roadster.

The Porsche will probably from £35,000 slotting in underneath the next-generation Boxster, which will grow notably in size and cost. The car will get a new four-cylinder boxer engine that will also power the Boxster, the Cayman and potentially even the 911. Sources say the flat four motor is sized at 2.5-litres and has been producing around 360bhp in turbocharged form.

Let’s hope this project is a larger sales success than the last Audi engineered Porsche, the 944. However, if they are shooting for the 500 Spyder as a spiritual target, my bets are on Porsche getting this car right, even with a turbo-4.

For the full Autocar article, follow this link.

In the case of Panamera v. Porsche, purists in the court of the WSJ we hereby rule in favor of the Panamera!

The attorney in mewants to argue both sides of this case. The plaintiff says: The 2011 Porsche Panamera is a crime against the brand, a merely competent luxury sport sedan that—given its bloated-corpse looks, your honor—deserves no leniency. I will not attempt to re-litigate whether any two-ton four-door deserves to be called a real Porsche—c.f., Enthusiasts v. Cayenne (2000). But at a minimum, Porsches need to be thrilling, powerful machines, and this car couldn’t stir a martini.

Look at the evidence: The Panamera S has a 400-horsepower V8. The Panamera Turbo has a 500-hp V8 and hits 60 miles per hour in 4 seconds. That’s just epic.

The just-introduced, entry-level Panamera (and all-wheel-drive Panamera 4), by contrast, is fitted with a paltry 3.6-liter, 300-hp V6, and the new gas-saving stop-start system, which shuts off the engine any time the car is stopped. Clearly, the base-model Panamera is offered only to puff up the company’s fuel-economy numbers and pander to eco-weenies.

Read the full article.

From Autoblog.com:

“More for Less.” It’s the call to prayer of every car salesman to ever don a plaid jacket. Guys with sturdy names like Wally and Chuck would stop dead in their tracks and tell Porsche “Pal, this Boxster Spyder thing, you’re all upside-down.” You see, with the 2011 Boxster Spyder, Porsche has inverted the polarity on “more for less.” You pay more but get less.

Read the full article here.

From AutoGuide.com:

With Porsche and Aston Martin making headway with their Panamera and Rapide four-door coupes, Lamborghini is apparently open to the idea of a four door sedan coupe similar to their Estoque concept car.

CEO Stephan Winkelmann is reported as saying to journalists that “a third model would fit Lamborghini very well”, and “a four-door car would be a very feasible approach.” But with the Estoque originally shelved in 2009 and sales down 18 percent versus last year.

The Estoque would need to give Lamborghini “a real leap” in sales for the company to justify the investment. While the four door coupe segment is currently on fire, there’s no telling whether the sector will continue to be hot, and a poorly timed introduction could spell doom for Lamborghini.

Check out more photos here.

Our friends at Sub5Zero.com give you the photos , video and breakdown of this upcoming beast of a car.

Apparently, some people have been worried Porsche has lost its way, citing the Cayenne and Panamera as evidence of a softer, family-oriented Porsche that cares more about producing profit than producing the kinds of cars that made them an icon. If you were one of these people I would hope the brilliant Cayman S, Turbo or Boxster Spyder would have helped you sleep at night, but if not then this should; it’s the 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Read the full article here.

The note on the windshield was damp with dew. It read: “Pure temptation!!”—Your anonymous neighbor

Such notes appear from time to time on my Porsche test cars. Everyone puts their own spin on the American dream. For Can, my not-so-anonymous Vietnamese neighbor, a red 911 has a starring role. Can was 16 when he first saw a red Porsche, from behind the concertina wire of a refugee-relocation camp in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.

“My brother pointed it out. He said, ‘James Dean died in one of those.’ ”

Read the full article here.