by: Dean Lewellen

This month's subject is based upon some factual knowledge, some well traveled rumors, and simply, some collected thoughts and dreams of what may be coming down the production lines at Porsche in the near and not too distant future in this first decade of the new millennium. I recently attended a Heritage Club luncheon in Seattle with some old Pacific Northwest Region members and friends (read graybeards) where we reflected on the past thirty years or so of great Porsches we have had or may still own and projected on where the twin paths of the 911 and the Cayenne development programs may take us as the future unfolds in Stuttgart. My story goes together something like this.

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT, the premier European automobile enthusiast's guidepost recently did a robust article on Porsche where the company notables interviewed supplied a vision of the Porsche production line of the future. One of the visionary, emerging products described was a two-door Kombi-Coupe similar to the BMW M3 powered by a front mounted V8 engine and perhaps produced on a new production line at Leipzig. Interested? The second vision described a Cayenne pickup truck in both two and four door trim for the US market. Now are you interested?

On the more definite side of the new product ledger, here are some of the exciting vehicles just around the corner. In the fall (Herbst), the Cayenne hits the market as a 2003 model. The first version will be the Cayenne-S Tiptronic powered by the Porsche 4.5 liter, 350 hp V8 engine. The Cayenne-S will be followed in the fourth quarter of 2002 by the Cayenne-Turbo Tiptronic with twin turbos producing 450 hp. It is projected that this Cayenne-Turbo version will outperform the base Model 996. In 2004, the poor man's VW model of the Cayenne will go on sale with a 3.2 liter version of the six-cylinder narrow-angle Volkswagen VR6 engine. In early 2003, the new 911 (Model 996) Turbo Cabriolet, GT-3, and Carrera GT will begin their production cycles. The Turbo Cab will be powered by a 414 hp twin turbocharged engine and there will also be a Carrera 4S "Turbo-look" Cabriolet version powered by the current 3.6 liter, 320 hp 996 engine. Despite Porsche Cars of North America's statements and claims, we probably won't see any of the new GT-3s with US license plates very soon, if ever. And, the Carrera GT will be seen or heard about only as often as we see or hear about folks willing and able to spend $350,000. plus for a set of wheels. Don't look for a road test of the Carrera GT in AUTOWEEK or ROAD & TRACK. In the fall (Herbst) of 2003, another new 911 Coupe (still a Model 996) with an engine upgrade to 3.8 liters will begin production together with a V6 Turbo-deisel powered version of the Cayenne which may be just about perfect for towing your family's travel trailer up Pikes Peak. Also, in late 2003, the Boxster will receive a face lift and another engine upgrade to a 3.3 liter, 275 hp version of the flat, six cylinder engine. 

On the more speculative side, the big news is the Model 997 or "next, next generation" 911. The 997 will be a brand new car with the current (then 3.8 liter) engine in the same rear location. The car will be an all new design with a sequential manual and automatic transmission. There are thirteen variant versions of this new car in the planning cycle, beginning with the 2005 Carrera Coupe in the fall of 2004 followed by new introductions every six months with Cabriolets, Targas, Turbos, and GTs rolling out twice a year through 2007. Most of the Coupe, Cabriolet and Targa models will be paired with an "S" version which will provide more performance than their basic model produces. The niche "S" version will not apply to the Turbo or GT cars which will already be high performance machines. One rumor is that the "S" models will have some form of the Porsche V8 from the Cayenne shoehorned into the rear of the Model 997's chassis. These V8 powered "S" cars would be aimed at the comfort-oriented driver looking for more speed, greater stability and a high level of on-board conveniences in his or her travels. Now, I'm dreaming! Also, in the fall of 2004, the new Boxster II will begin production which will include the long rumored Boxster Coupe in the model line up. As is the case today, the Model 997 and the Boxster II will share many components, but the 997 will also share some components with the exotic V10 powered Carerra GT. Now, I'm really dreaming! 

From what I'm told, and, from past experiences, you should believe about one-half to two-thirds of this story. The Cayenne information and time line is probably true, the Model 997 stuff is mostly true, and we can simply dream and schmooze about the rest.