Porsche 911 Under VW Scrutiny

• 2012 Porsche 911 receives mixed reviews from VW execs
• VW demands changes to 911 design
• Porsche 911 team said to be “demoralized”

By Gunnar Heinrich

CRY the beloved country.

Stuttgart’s once independent sports car maker is said to have been recently called on the carpet by its new VW overlords re: the next generation flagship.

Das problem?

The 2012 Porsche 911, that torque tailed frog known for evolutionary rather than revolutionary design, will have to undergo last minute revisions to its front fascia and hind quarters in advance of the model’s launch in – you guessed right – 2011.

Messrs Piech and Winterkorn are said to have expressed their displeasure with platform 991’s (a.k.a. “998″) subtly modified appearance and as such are applying their own managerial torque to the vehicle’s design team.

According to auto scribe Georg Kacher, VW’s looking at its €16 Billion ($23 Billion) acquisition in purely Bismarkian terms which means that anything und everything down to the cafeteria lunch menus is game for reconsideration and re-engineering.

That next generation 911 seems to be at the heart of this corporate sturm und drang shouldn’t surprise us. But it does beg consideration: will VW’s overbearing managerial style compromise the 911’s success?

In America, we have a beautiful expression: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” VW might be wise to let what once was the world’s most profitable car maker do its thang.

Source | CAR Magazine