Quick Rant: Whats wrong with the Porsche Designers?

OK, the CGT looks pretty good, the 911 looks great, but they have had 40+ years to improve the design so it should look good. The Pepper looks below average in my opinoin and from what I can tell, the new panamerica is going to look stupid too. Never been crazy about the Boxster and so what gives at Porsche in the design department? I keep seeing these awesome new cars coming out and saddly they all look cooler than the new Porsches (except the 911 varients). This is what the Panamerica should look like: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/landi...=337&GT1=10761

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Except I think that looks like a stretched and twisted Pontiac Solstist

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UHHHGGG... I'm a designer and that thing is way out of proportion, period. Looks like two vehicles put together. I do like the very middle of the car...but hey, they are half way to the bat mobile. Oh, by the way, I think the design of the boxster is spot on for what it is...has been documented, even by porsche, to have saved the company. Looks helped in that. Even you helped in that. You are correct at how well the 911 has evolved.

the 997 looks rather bland to me esp with the competition heating things up. i'm hoping the 998 gives it a major kick in the ****.

Looks like an Aston to me... beautiful lines.

Ugly as seven miles of bad road.

That doesn't look like a Porsche.

I'm fairly pleased with the 40+ years of 911 evolution, and I think the Boxster (especially the 987) looks fantastic. The Cayenne is just (insert your own adjectives). I'll reserve final judgment on the Panamera until I see it in person.

What's that saying 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'. Well to me the Porsche design has changed over the years, and what we have now is the latest evolution of what is perfect in regards to being a Porsche 911. Stretching it out and following other trends is unnecessary and is not the Porsche way. The CGT is awesome looking and Porsche deserves to have one super car like that. But the 911 should not change to look like anything else especially like that ugly piece of shyte in Post #1. I also cannot wait to see the 998, but for now the 997 is a Porsche 911 and has no competition in what it represents.

Huh? That car looks like it was forged out of a single sheet of stupid.

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++1 Well said. This is one of the reasons I bought one. The 911 design stands alone from the first model to current. A visual masterpiece is timeless art, this is hard to achieve in paintings, buildings, cars etc... I hope Porsche keeps the core design/lines much the same, as they have. The changes I look forward in seeing are more on the refinement and technology side of things, as the case has been.

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Ditto.

Looks like a drawing from the old CarToons magazine. And not in a good way.

This car looks like a Timex while the 911 is classic like a Rolex

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Now you got me going as a designer lets see your thoughts.

One area where I question the Porsche designers is with trying to make the Cayenne and Panamera look like a 911. It doesn't work. The 911 design works for the 911 obviously, and tweaking that for the Cayman and Boxster works very well IMO. They have their own style that is similar, but unique. They are also cars with sporting heritage which makes making them look like 911 spawn work. However, the Cayenne and Panamera are something totally different. Making them look like a Porsche did not necessarily mean they needed to look like a bigger form or interpretation of the 911. That simply does not work IMO. I think those two should have been molded in their own right and perhaps they were, but to me the Carrera GT worked so well because it wasn't a 911 made into a super car. It was something they started with a blank canvas. Perhaps they did that with the Cayenne and Panamera, but it doesn't appear that way to me. It appears more like they tried to make them look too much like the 911.

I agree that the photo above looks like a Pontiac. If Porsche designers start making junk like that, then it's time to sell.

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i agree on the spirit of the points u make but not seeing the same visuals as you are comparing the cayenne to the 911. i just don't see it. the cayenne is **** ugly. the pan ain't even out yet.

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I'm sorry Ben but I have to question why you actually own a Porsche since you do not like any design of there's (except the CGT, which if anyone hates has a serious issue with there eyes and ears). You seem to challenge every thread asking for more pics or stating that you would not do what the person did. You obviously did not buy a Porsche for it's racing heritage and will no doubt not take your Porsche on a track, since you do not know any difference between what works on the track and what is only for looks (i.e. CCW wheels are great for the track but may not be aesthetically appealing for the street compared to other wheels). I have gone along with you on some items, but amazed to see your responses in a lot of other areas. I know this is not new to a lot of people on here, but I have one big question: What do you have to offer this forum I think the only thing you do have to offer this forum is entertaiment and that is why knowone takes you seriously. Yes this is probably a surprise to you to hear this from me Ben, but I speak the truth. I appreciate your feedback on the things I have done to my car, and you have had a little to do with that, but not much. But I own a Porsche that will change over time and will be tracked, basically what the car is designed for. Sure it looks good, but aesthetics do not make the car faster around a track. Yes it is nice to tell people I own a Porsche, but to tell them that I track it and how great a car it is to drive on the track and still drive it on the street is even better. Bottom-line is that the Porsche 911 is not going to become a supercar like Lambo's, Ferrari's and one-of designs that are out there, the CGT fills that void. The next generation of 911 is probably going to be slightly different than the 997. Keep in mind that the design is perfect for a car that is track worthy and as a Daily Driver where other cars mentioned are not.

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Calling Ben to the principal's office! Ooh, you're in trouble now! They must-a be gonna kick you out because you don't bring anything to the table! Dismissing everyone that doesn't offer anything to the forum but their unique personality and $18 a year wouldn't make for a very enjoyable place, I'm afraid. <snaps ruler on desk> Maybe there should be a ban on all gratuitous comments and you can only post one line at a time, well-researched with citations, and if the others don't deem it worthy, out you go! <shakes head>

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Just had to speak my mind and like I said, it is good entertainment and yes this forum needs that, so I don't want Ben to go away, but I would like more input that is Porsche Positive.

I'm not trying to say that the car pictured is the perfect sedan, but the renderings I've seen of the Panamerica look fugly. I agree with blk on blk 100%...they seem to be trying to make the cayenne and panamerica look like the 911...or resemble a 911. I just think they are trying to incorporate styling cues that don't work.

At the end of the day, people will buy the car just because of the badge. I love the quattroporte (sp?) because it is the sexier looking 4 door between the two in that price range.

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+1

Although I appreciate aggressive designs, it seems that many conservative designs look better longer. My guess is that having a consistent design over time helps maintain prices of Porsches, BMW's, etc. They're recognizable regardless of the year. They look different, but not dated.

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Ouch, that's a touch harsh (no flame, just my opinion). I certainly don't agree with all of Ben's opinions, but he's got a right to state them.

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Bingo! That's what makes a 911 a 911 - Porsche 911 designs do not look dated and that's their appeal.

Ray, You think that Speeds statements were any harsher than what others have received from Ben?

Porsches are UGLY!! But I like Ugly..makes me look much better!!

At least you like the right color ugly and done in triple

As long as the cars sell , the design is working. I do not like everything Porsche sells, but hey I don't buy everything they sell....Different strokes for different folks, thats what it boils down to.

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I've got zero beef w/the SpeedDemon and Ben can certainly come across as harsh from time to time. As I said, no flame intended.

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I think Ben lets out what's in his mind a little at a time while SpeedDemon let it all out at once.

resembles a Maserati Quattroport's body line and shape

Interesting thread! When I was a kid (which was a while ago), I liked 911s and Jag XKE. The difference to me is that the Porsche 911s have progressed along a line where I like all of them, while the new version of the XK looks, well, not to my liking. Same with Corvette styling-- like the occasional year, but not that many. I still think the early XKE is the ultimate, but out of my league . . . Besids, where could I find 19" wire wheels and a wing!! I really like the lines of my 996 C4S (and all the other iterations)

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Jon, this is a key sentiment. To many people, including my father, my friends, and me, the Porsche 911 is elegant and beautiful precisely because the lineage is intact and traceable. While the 997 surely looks different than that first 911 (1964?), there is no denying the heritage. That's what I bought into: the fact that my father had owned Porsches all of my life, I'd always enjoyed riding in them, and this year's car didn't make last year's car feel obsolute. Instead, this year's car builds upon last year's car. When we drive or race around in our 911s, we share a sentiment that those before us shared and it unites and excites us (or at least me). One of the problems that I've noted with Corvettes, Ferraris and Lambos is that they try too hard to distinguish one model from the next. What happens is that there is not tie to the past. Moreover, as soon as the next iteration is released, many past models start to look dated (though to my eyes, I will take the 355 over the 360 or 430 anyday). There seems to come a point where designers are designing simply to make a 'new' model for sale rather than to actually improve a design. The 911 speaks to heritage racer in all of us; why veer to hard from this path for the sole reason of change unless that change brings practicaly and useably improvements? Clearly, Porsche has learned this lesson with the 911 (though it's disputable that they learned it with the 924, 944, 968, etc). In trying to keep up with the trends, Ferrari and Corvette lose a little bit of their soul each year.

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Some Porsches are purchased for flash, some for fun. I actually like both. I still test drive every car I can think of when I'm ready, but my last 6 cars have all been Porsches. I really like hearing from both flash and fun enthusiasts. I knew to look for an X-51 C4S because of this forum, I knew how to squeeze 400 horsepower out of it because of this forum, I was willing to try 335/30/18 rear tires because of this forum (they fit by the way), but I've always liked Ben's post too. Of course, I've been kicked off this forum, so I'm probably a bit liberal...