Report: New Volkswagen sports car platforms will be developed by Porsche

Good. I'm excited to see how this will pan out. I have always been a fan of some VW products.

This might help the VW brand and the overall corporation in the short run, but I worry that engineering and platform sharing will ultimately undermine the Porsche brand the most, e.g., even with the LFA Lexus can't seem to shake the "nothing more than an expensive Toyota" legacy. As Toyota tries time and time again to shake that image, VW seems more than willing to do their best to blur lines that ought to be kept clear.

If a Bentley and Porsche can be based on a VW,and a Lamborghini on an Audi a supercar built on its own everything from the ground up certainly has more merit than some platform engineered caricature of the original brand. As far as this whole article it makes no sense it saids in the articl mid engine platform yet the article also states that the are building a front engined platform for various uses.....

bmwdrvr. The statement was "front-engine configuration that will hold both longitudinal and transverse engine" So they can use that same platform for FWD, RWD, or AWD applications. It's actually a great idea.

your missing my point they state in the articles these sports cars will be midengined on a front engine platform built for front rear or all wheel drive that doesnt make sense, are they mid engined or front engined cars.....they arent both...

your missing my point they state in the articles these sports cars will be midengined on a front engine platform built for front rear or all wheel drive that doesnt make sense, are they mid engined or front engined cars.....they arent both...

I'm really liking all the strategic moves by VW lately. Except the Phaeton and their stubborness about not creating a VW minibus.

I'm with you t_bone.

You're right about the micro bus. I would think that if VW threw their hybrid powertrain in a micro/mini-bus, that would be a game changer. Hell, it can't be worse than a rebadged Caravan.

As for Porsche developing VW's sports cars, it can only be win for the consumers as long as Porsche adds their abilities without compromising the vision and integrity of the end product. I'm thinking R8s and the RS Line, Lambo's, Bugatti & Bentley's.

Well it makes sense that Porsche develope "all" platforms for VW, both mid engined and front engined. They have great engineering expertize and why should it not be utilized.I believe that's what the article was trying to say but poorly written. Porsche and Lambo are no longer bankrupt. Porsche only was getting closer due to the fact that their former CEO Wendall Weidiking thought he could swing buying majority stock in VW.He almost pulled it off. Unfortunately the economy tanked.It would have been very interesting had that situation happened.Porsche is more then capable of developing all the platforms VW needs in it's empire.On the sportscar front VW is trying to expand Porsche volume.Making sportscars is what Porsche specializes in. VW is large enough now to be able to fill a niche and make a little extra money. Further buy sharing the mid engined platform among Porsche,Audi,and VW the cost per unit drops dramtically.