Shark Tail Light Upgrade?

[DrEntropy]

Got my Porsche training in Lanham, MD. VWOA.

...and I didn't say I don't LIKE the 928's, Bret. Just pokin' yer ribs a bit. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

 

[Bret]

So, when Porsche was able to build the 356's, it was getting back to his original ideas made from parts from his modified ideas. Sort of a serious 'Chicken and the Egg type story'.

But I am only an amateur historian. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

You’re a wealth of information Shawn.

But if you’re trying to convince me that there isn’t a clear DNA link between the Beatle & the 356 or (more to my point) Volkswagen & Porsche, the case kind of gets murky when you see the clear link that still exists to this day between the two and even Audi. While not as strong as some collaborations it’s there none the less.

A great example of this continued interaction today are the Porsche Cayenne & V-Dub Touareq are basically the same platform and about 60-70% of the Cayenne’s parts are shared with it’s lesser Volkswagen sibling.

You would have to bring up the whole 'Production' thing wouldn't you. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Yeah I know, that was really my point. But the funny thing is the 928 was really an attempt by Porsche to hedge their bets, because with the way the emissions & safety regulations where headed here in North America (a vital & major market for them), they really weren’t sure how long they could “tweak” the basic 911 platform. To their engineer’s credit as we all know they managed quite well to meet the challenge. But I don’t think they where ever really 100% sure until recent years when they where forced to start water cooling their engines.

Got my Porsche training in Lanham, MD. VWOA.

...and I didn't say I don't LIKE the 928's, Bret. Just pokin' yer ribs a bit. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

I know Doc. I know. I kind of figured I’d know when you where being serious. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[swift6]

But if you’re trying to convince me that there isn’t a clear DNA link between the Beatle & the 356 or (more to my point) Volkswagen & Porsche, the case kind of gets murky when you see the clear link that still exists to this day between the two and even Audi. While not as strong as some collaborations it’s there none the less.

A great example of this continued interaction today are the Porsche Cayenne & V-Dub Touareq are basically the same platform and about 60-70% of the Cayenne’s parts are shared with it’s lesser Volkswagen sibling.

Oh no, not trying to say there isn't a clear DNA link at all. Very definite DNA link. In fact one thing that VW, Audi, Daimler-Benz, Auto Union and a few other manufacturers that didn't survive WWII have in Common is Porsche.

Your right that in many ways you could consider the VW/Audi/Porsche Group to really be one large company. Until recently, they each had their own specific range to cover. VW was still the economy car, Audi was the luxury and near luxury segment and Porsche was the high end Sports cars. Those lines have begun to blur recently.

The ties that extend back to pre-WWII also explain the ease of engineering swapping that has gone on between Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. Before Daimler AG bought AMG to turn it into an 'in-house' Mercedes-Benz tuning firm (like BMW's "M" brand), they used to turn to Porsche to help engineer their higher performance cars and when Porsche needed a automatic transmission for the 928, they turned to Mercedes-Benz.

I can't recall much collaboration on those levels with the big three American manufacturers. Although they each tried to do everything while the German manufacturers were all fairly specialized.

Porsche has also been trying to replace the 911 for decades but the fan/customer base won't allow it. They've made many superior cars (like the 928) but the 911 community bashes anything else so hard that it hurts sales on the other cars and increses sales of the 911 evolutions. The current 911/Cayman/Boxster issues are a good example.

 

[Steve]

As a matter of interest, furthering the discussion of the Porsche/VW/Audi connection, the Tiptronic transmission is a Porsche innovation, which was shared with VW/Audi.

In addition, I have heard that Porsche are now attempting to take a majority stake in VW/Audi. They already hold, I believe, a 10% stake in the company?