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Porsche is preparing to roll out a new entry-level sports car that will help underpin the maker’s long-term future as part of the giant VW Group.

Dubbed by some insiders as the “new 356”, the mid-engined machine will not, however, be a bargain basement model, despite initial rumours to the contrary. Given the final green light, it would cost from about £33,000 in today’s money.

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Autocar:

it would cost from about £33,000 in today’s money.

The Boxster starts at £34,000. Basically this is just a way of increasing prices across the rest of the range rather than actually offering a genuinely affordable model as once thought.

Its interesting that sales predictions forecast the Porsche 358 outselling the Audi R4 by 3:1 as I suspect the ratio may be much closer to 50/50 if the success of the Audi R8 is anything to go by. Also, all those investment *ankers may not have forgotten how Porsche ripped them off not so long ago.

Quattro369:

The Boxster starts at £34,000. Basically this is just a way of increasing prices across the rest of the range rather than actually offering a genuinely affordable model as once thought.

Bang on correct!

Porsche should be looking at creating a base model pitched at something like the standard Elise (around £25k).  With the resources now available from the group I am sure Porsche have the engineering capabilities to produce a vehicle that could be inexpensive and feel significant different to any siblings.

Sorry but this just sounds like the long road to complete dilution of the Porsche brand. Higher volumes, lower prices, shared components... Zero exclusivity. Looks like the wealthy may need to find a substitute brand in the near future, if they wish to avoid being tard by the 'wanna be' crowd..

WooDz:

Sorry but this just sounds like the long road to complete dilution of the Porsche brand.

Sadly you are right, but this was always going to happen once VW took control.

Porsche as we knew it is dead.  Long live Porsche.

On the positive side a cheaper more economical Porche has got to be a good thing. However if the computer rendition truly reflects the new car where is "the unique styling inside and out." Looks like all the others to me !

Quattro369:

Its interesting that sales predictions forecast the Porsche 358 outselling the Audi R4 by 3:1 as I suspect the ratio may be much closer to 50/50 if the success of the Audi R8 is anything to go by.

I think the article means that 356+Boxter+Cayman+911 will all share the new platform and total 75k units between them?

 To Porsche, PLEASE make this car look different from your other models!

This is folly.  The good times will return just as Porsche has generated and produced a car aimed at downsizers. As with the ghastly Panamera it will hit the market at just the wrong time. There are a lot of people making a lot of money at the moment and, taking into account economic mayhem at the end of next year as people start to realise that they cannot continue to pat their mortgages, soon they will start spending it.

Can't they just make a stripped out boxer with the small four cylinder engine and PDK (which for sure will be an option on this new car)? - What about the old 5 speed unit they had in the last Cayman, that was cheap. Also, why not just inflate the price of the 911, people wanting a Porsche who can't afford a 911 won't go and buy a 370z - they will just buy a Boxster.

Porsche is way over priced and now that easy money has dried up so have their sales in the US, guess they will just rip off the Russians and Chinese now till they wise up and see that they are way overpriced for what you get.

I'd be interested if they could bring it to market sub 1200kg.  (The current Boxster S is 1355kg).  I'm willing to have a manual hood and would happily ditch the standard electric seat reclining which has nowhere to recline to in the mid-engined models.  I don't really care if it has 'the family look' as I like it anyway.  Bring it on.