Porsche's Biggest Enemy, MPG Requirements, And How They'll Conquer It

CNN Money reports:

Consider this: A 345 horsepower, $78,000 Porsche 911 is about the same size as a 145 horsepower, $15,000 Toyota Corolla. That means, as far as new government fuel economy rules are concerned, they should use the same amount of gasoline.

But, as any who's ever driven a Porsche will tell you, it's no Corolla.

Under the new rules, finalized recently, every automaker will be given specific fuel economy targets based on the average size of the vehicles it sells. That way, all automakers aren't forced to make compact cars and buyers who need larger vehicles will still be able to find them.

The challenge for Porsche will be to fit the performance its customers want while getting something closer to small car fuel economy. The German-based automaker is undaunted by the new rules and vows to greatly improve the fuel economy of its cars, Porsche Cars North America CEO Detlev Von Platen said. With both governments and customers demanding better fuel economy, he promises it will be done -- without sacrificing the driving experience.

"Porsche will remain first in class in performance," he said....

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Joe_Limon - 4/8/2010 1:19:19 PM

+1 Boost

Uhm... how will they conquer it? The article left that out... are they going to castrate their cars? Or adopt longer wheelbases?

rxh8me9000 - 4/8/2010 1:39:55 PM

+3 Boost

Noone knows,hes asking our opinions.

BondMI6 - 4/8/2010 1:36:16 PM

+2 Boost

Toyota and Porsche will work together to create the "Porscholla".

It does 0-60 in 4 sec's and gets 35mpg.

Best of all, since it's part Toyota it accelerates on its' own........

rxh8me9000 - 4/8/2010 1:43:14 PM

+2 Boost

Maybe they can lighten the cars or start using turbos across the range with smaller motors? I think the gas standards should be based on how many vehicles that company produces.I don't know the numbers but lets say for instance Toyota sells 1 million cars a year and Ferrari sells 1,000. Should they both have to follow these new standards?I don't think so.

Joe_Limon - 4/8/2010 2:21:22 PM

+1 Boost

I'm pretty sure they are based on the number of cars a company produces, and I'm pretty sure the cap is at 100,000.

WorldofLuxury - 4/9/2010 4:22:13 AM

+2 Boost

If you're trying to make things fair, I don't think your suggestion would satisfy many, and the discourse is never going to be solved with a strict, simple, and near-unbreakable rulebook that doesn't provoke foul play.

Ferrari makes a big profit off every vehicle, and even though I don't know the actual ratio when compared to Toyota, I simply think it's unfair to punish Toyota for being able to sell at a greater volume. Of course, we don't want Ferrari to become mainstream, but trying to be fair is better than not trying at all.

For the better of the "future", we have to implement regulations that are parallel across all segments of the auto industry. The government has to stop talking about climate change and let people know about the tremendous improvements in air quality in downtown LA over the decades. We have to re-emphasize clean air for TODAY for greater effect both in funding and in the research. (I can't believe I'm saying this; I'm really ambivalent about loud, usually "dirtier" cars and quiet sleepers)

Finally, I don't want my 10-year-old V8 luxury sedan be accused of pollution, when it was one of the few in its segment that managed to avoid the gas-guzzling tax in the first place.

Seriously though... I can't believe Porsche actually has such a problem.

0to60 - 4/8/2010 3:15:25 PM

+6 Boost

They can do like aston did with the IQ and give away porsche beetles with the purchase of certain higher end cars.

dlin - 4/8/2010 3:21:01 PM

+2 Boost

Even better is that TATA Nano.....

DinamoR - 4/8/2010 7:59:00 PM

0 Boost

Good. Force them to make an electric car.