Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hello everyone,

I am a final year Transportation-Design (Automotive-Design) student at Northumbria University, currently working on my final major project. For my final major project I am looking into designing a new Porsche model.

I grew up in Germany and my father always took me to motor shows when I was a kid. During that time I must have felt in love with Porsche because their timeless approach to design still fascinates me whenever I see a Porsche. Because I am passionate about Porsche, I chose to design one for my final major project.

For the success of my final major project it is vital that I gain an insight into Porsche’s market and deeper understanding of their enthusiasts, drivers and customers. I do not own or drive a Porsche myself, so your opinion as enthusiasts, drivers and customers is really important for me and the outcome of my project.

When I was in Germany over Christmas, I visited the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and booked a private tour around the Museum. That really helped me understanding the history of Porsche.

At the moment, the findings of my research tell me, that there is a bit of a gap in Porsche’s market for a vehicle with mid-engine layout. When the production of the Carrera GT ended in 2006, there was no high-performance mid-engined Porsche anymore. What do you think about that theory?

From my visit at the Museum, I also learned that many important/image defining cars for Porsche were actually Spyders/Roadsters like the Porsche 356 ‘No1’ Roadster,356 Speedster, 550 Spyder or 718 RSK 60 Spyder. Therefore I am thinking of designing a 2-seater Spyder in mid-engine layout which will sit on top of the Boxster range (independent from the Boxster/Cayman) and to sit alongside the Porsche 911 motor sport models (GT3, GT3 RS, GT2).

There will be an end to the combustion engine soon and Dr.Ferdinand Porsche developed the first electric wheel-hub motor, so I am currently looking into making my Spyder concept electric, powered by four electric motors (all wheel drive).

I would like to ask you some general questions:

1) What do you think of alternative drive trains, especially electric drive trains?

2) Would you drive an electric Porsche?

3) What do you love about your Porsche?

4) What do you need in a Porsche - What makes a Porsche for you?

5) Where do you take your Porsche (which model), is it a daily driver?

6) How would you describe the ‘Porsche experience’ from your point of view?

What do you think about my idea in general?

Please feel free to give me as much input as possible - be it negative or positive, because your feedback means a lot for my project.

Are there any Porsche enthusiasts living near Newcastle? I would love to show my work to some enthusiasts in person.

Really looking forward to your replies.

cheers

Marcus

Marcus,

Hi & welcome.

1) What do you think of alternative drive trains, especially electric drive trains?
OK but still not convinced the technology is mature enough to be mainstream yet.

2) Would you drive an electric Porsche?
Possibly if the performance, range etc. was equal to a petrol model.

3) What do you love about your Porsche?
The shape of the 944 & the handling & roadholding & the way it has kept those abilities after 22 years.

4) What do you need in a Porsche - What makes a Porsche for you?
2 & 3

5) Where do you take your Porsche (which model), is it a daily driver?
Mine was for 18 months & 38K miles now a second car doing 2K+ a year.

6) How would you describe the ‘Porsche experience’ from your point of view?
Solid build quality, top handling & roadholding & good looks.

What do you think about my idea in general?
Pretty good, haven't the Factory & RUF already done a hybrid/electric Porsche.

1) What do you think of alternative drive trains, especially electric drive trains?
The drive is completely different, sadly i think its a choice we wont be able to make, as it will be forced upon us.

2) Would you drive an electric Porsche?
Now? no... the future? No.

3) What do you love about your Porsche?
The clunk of the door as you close it, followed by that unmistakable air cooled smell... only bettered by THAT noise as you turn the key and she fires into life.

4) What do you need in a Porsche - What makes a Porsche for you?
The driving experience.

5) Where do you take your Porsche (which model), is it a daily driver?
To the track and dark roads for abuse, not my daily driver.

6) How would you describe the ‘Porsche experience’ from your point of view?
The way the car communicates its feeling to me as i drag its fat ass around a bend.

What do you think about my idea in general?
I see your point - no top end mid layout, BUT - not quite sure you'll get a hybrid to perform at the level you want to pitch the car at.

Happy to help.

Hello,
Thank you very much for the warm welcome and your detailed posts, they were very helpful.
@Jim: Generally speaking, you would buy an electric Porsche, if it would feel and perform like a ‘real’ Porsche. Also, the infrastructure needs to be there, it needs to be charged easily and reasonably quickly. To cut a long story short – the technology needs to be advanced enough (which it isn’t yet).
Did I get you right?

Yes, RUF did a full electric 911/Cayenne and the factory did a Hybrid Cayenne. But these cars are production cars which were equipped with that technology later on as an afterthought. What I want to create is an independent concept which is far more radical than ‘just’ an electric 911 (from a design point of view, because the drive train did not drastically change the RUF 911’s design).
As a design student, I am fascinated by the freedom and opportunities an electric powered layout/chassis could give me; therefore I am looking into electric drive trains. With most of the technology in the chassis, this layout could give me an opportunity to create something really radical and different. What I want to do is something which is really stripped down, very pure and raw, the essence of Porsche if you wish. I definitely do not want to design the next generation Boxster I want to create something independent and different.
@Demonfish: I understand your point, that the sound of a Porsche is one of its fascinating features; nothing beats the sound of that Boxer. But from my point of view I guess it would be wrong to imitate that sound in an electric Porsche.
Thanks for your comment on my idea, I am still in the research phase and I am looking into power output of electric vehicles. How much bhp you reckon should that kind of vehicle provide?
I think I am on my way to understand Porsche, thanks a lot for your comments.
Your post did give me an insight what a Porsche should be, thanks for that.

I would really appreciate it, if more of you would reply and tell me what you think, every opinion counts – it can only be positive for the outcome of my project!

Looking forward to read more from you guys!


Marcus

Hi - I'm quite jealous that you are designing a new Porsche Model - I wish I had the equipment and the know-how, so very good luck to you.

Below are my answers:

1) What do you think of alternative drive trains, especially electric drive trains?
A - I am not particularly interested in either

2) Would you drive an electric Porsche?
A - No

3) What do you love about your Porsche?
A - The Badge, The History, The Look, The Sound, The Drive, its the Dogs B***ocks... (REALLY good)

4) What do you need in a Porsche - What makes a Porsche for you?
A - Reliability and Prestige, and the knowledge that I own a car that is quality engineering and poetry in motion...

5) Where do you take your Porsche (which model), is it a daily driver?
A - I take my 944 anywhere I wish - I use it once a week generally

6) How would you describe the ‘Porsche experience’ from your point of view?
A - AWESOME AND MIND-BLOWING

Hope these answers help...

Good luck

Baz