Porsche waving a shotgun in VDubs direction

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joey D
  • 9 comments
  • 704 views
Joey D

Joey D

Premium
Messages
47,879
United States
Lakes of the North, MI
Messages
GTP_Joey
Messages
GTP Joey
Could Porsche force VW to unload Lamborghini and Bugatti?

Source: Autoblog

Is Volkswagen about to shed some supercars from its stable? It could be the case, if statements by Porsche boss/VW supervisory board member, Wendelin Wiedeking, are taken seriously. When asked about the future Bugatti and Lamborghini within the Volkswagen Group, Wiedeking is quoted as saying "no toys anymore." Cash from the sale of these two exotic makers could help VW work on resurrecting restructuring its core Volkswagen brand, which would allow VW to reclaim its position as a true global player.

But it's not all about the Euros. Not surprisingly, it is reported that Wiedeking isn't too happy Porsche might occupy anything less than the top rung in the corporate hierarchy. Imagine Audi R8, Porsche 911 and Lamborghini Gallardo all in the same family – that might be a little awkward. And with a new Porsche supercar reportedly in the works designed to break the top speed record set by the Bugatti Veyron, it can only get worse. Throw in a Murcielago LP640 successor, and we think the sibling rivalry would turn to bloodshed.

Autocar is speculating that Lamborghini could be sold off, but that Bugatti might turn into little more than a coachbuilder. If the Veyron ends up making Bugatti a one-and-done automaker this go-around, we say job well done but hope there's more to come.

Though Wiedeking is a member of VW's supervisory board and his company does now own 31% of the VW Group, the question remains how much influence Porsche really has over the future of VW. German law in this regard is complicated, and as far as we can tell, beyond a voice on the board, Porsche can't do much at the moment to force the sale of Lamborghini and Bugatti, whether it wants to or not.
 
While it makes sense that someone in Porshce finally realises that the money they keep throwing at Lamborghini and Audi is edging in rather seriously on Porsches turf, I really doubt Piech will let Wiedeking off of his leash to do anything about it other than minor whine. Remember, Piech bought all those things for Volkswagen in the first place, from Bugatti to Lamborghini. He will probably make Winterkorn fold to his wishes and then run it from there.
 
Although this does sound like a lot of "we want to be top dog in the company" talk, I believe the article has a point when it talks about "restructuring its core Volkswagen brand." Although they've been better about it recently, VW doesn't seem to concentrate on VW as much as they should.
 
true, but Porsche should and start building cars to compete with the super exotics if they are so worried about rank within the company
 
Here's the thing though, I don't think anyone really cares if Porsche makes the most fantastically powerful and fast supercar ever. They like Porsches as they are, Porsche don't need a car that's above the Veyron, nor do I think anyone actually cares that they have one or not. Weideking doesn't seem to realise that Porsche doesn't need to be seen as the top company to continue to be as popular, and as profitable as they currently are. A point proven by the fact that Porsche are the most profitable car company on the planet at the present.
 
Dave A
Here's the thing though, I don't think anyone really cares if Porsche makes the most fantastically powerful and fast supercar ever. They like Porsches as they are, Porsche don't need a car that's above the Veyron, nor do I think anyone actually cares that they have one or not. Weideking doesn't seem to realise that Porsche doesn't need to be seen as the top company to continue to be as popular, and as profitable as they currently are. A point proven by the fact that Porsche are the most profitable car company on the planet at the present.
Click to expand...
To further prove your point, it wasn't Porsche's sportscars that saved them from selling themselves to a parent company, nor is it the "image" of a company that produces cars like the Carrera GT and a possible future Veyron-beater that provides them with so much income today.

It's the much-loathed and despised Cayenne.
 
My guess is that the folks who control VW won't let Porsche boss them around too easily, but well see what happens. Generally speaking, I really don't consider any of the Audis, Lambos, or even the Bugatti really all that much of a threat to the Porsche line, as they tend to cater more to true driving enthusiasts, particularly with the all-important 911.

But I would agree with others here; VW needs to worry about VW, it has been a long-time coming...
 
I agree that Porsche shouldn't worry so much about in-house competition (which there really isn't, unless you count the Cayman and R8, neither of which are in danger of leaving), and that VAG as a whole should concentrate more on the core brands, but it would be a shame to see Lamborghini et. al. go to less-than-worthy owners. Especially Bugatti, whose phoenix-like history deserves more than just one model year.

VW, despite the quality products and despite the solid sales, needs to streamline itself and focus on the VW/Audi aspects, and less on Seat/Skoda/Bentley/yadda-yadda-yadda. All the shared platforms, shared componentry, and shared models do little but dilute the meaning of the respective brands.

In short, I'm all in favor of sell-offs, but let the sales go to people who know what to do with it (i.e., not China).
 

Latest Posts

Back