Strange "989" article from AutoSpies...(longish).

April 3, 2003 Will the Porsche 989 ever see the light of day? The inside scoop Will the Porsche 989 ever see the light of day? Here�s what one of or European spies has to say� The 989 (pictured from CAR Magazine) was a concept that never really came into being because it�s original idea of a true four seater, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive 911 was flawed according to senior management at the time. It was thought of as a possible replacement and/or range topper for the 911, but sales of the cheaper Boxster had not ballooned at this time, and the board were uncertain that front-engined coupe was the way to go (remember the 928?) in the light of an impending recession. Selling 7500 units of a car some �13,000-�17000 ($21,000-$28,000) more than a 911 looked improbable, so the red ink came out. Porsche also needed to rationalise its models and start making more money, so Harm Lagaay�s car never got beyond prototype in the mid/late 90�s. The reason it was killed is somewhat conscious and the real reason may depend on who you believe. Some say that Audi chief (later to become Porsche boss) Ferdinand Piech discouraged its development as he saw a direct competitor to more expensive offerings from the four rings. Others say the Germans felt that it just diverted that bit too far from Porsche�s core values. Whatever reason, it was canned, so it was ironic that a few months later the idea for the Cheyenne was conceived - especially as designers Harm Lagaay and Ulrich Bez drew a svelte SUV just under a decade earlier, which was also discarded. Initial development mules ran on Mercedes E-Class chassis with the then newly developed 3.2-litre, 300 hp flat six from the 996, and a �new� 3.6 litre V8 engine (later to make it into the Cheyenne) both in front-engined, rear-wheel-drive configurations. Even in a rough state, this comfortable coupe (as big as a 5-serise inside) was able to hold the new Boxster in a 0-60 dash and pull a very impressive set of mid-range and top speed figures even with a curb weight of 3500lbs. Although this story has surfaced again, the proposed NEW model is more a true 928 replacement than a 911 anything - offering front-engine, rear-wheel-drive chassis with more a hint of Jaguar XK in it�s packaging. The E2A is a 2+2 much like the 928S and would be available with a smaller version of the Cheyenne V8, probably 4.0 litres and 350 hp. On the other hand, the E2B would be a very fast, exceptionally comfortable four-door coupe (ala Merc CLE) and would be powered by versions of the Cheyennes V8 engines in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. All Porsches are now taking interior quality and styling cues from the 4x4 and the E2�s would be no exception. There would not be a great deal of cutting-edge technology in the new cars and they would probably not showcase any of Porsche�s up-and-coming new gearbox systems or engines, so the Germans are still undecided how to price this car. The real problem is that unless Cheyenne sales skyrocket like the Boxster did in 1996, the E2 concepts will die, which were originally discarded because Porsche felt anything out of the ordinary would not sell with existing customers. Unless people convince Zuffenhausen officials by purchasing the big 4x4 on-mass, this spiritual successor to the 928 will also be still born. Remember the fabulous Boxster concept in 94? We could have had THAT car, but Porsche couldn�t hold it�s wad, and watered it down. For that same reason we may never see the 989.

Wasn't the 989 a rear engined, four door 911 concept? There's a big writeup on it in the recent 911 & Porsche World magazine. I always thought it was rear engined. Officially announcing a front engined, rear drive V8 928 replacement, or a V8 M5 killer would be a good move right now. It might sway the judgements of the anti-SUV Porsche fans of the world. Maybe convince them that Porsche is not destined for a life of minivans and pickup trucks. Speaking of which... Cheyenne = Chevrolet pickup Cayenne = Porsche

Yeah, you wonder if Auto Spies can't get the Cayenne spelling right, just how much do they know. Maybe it's fiction!

I really don't trust anything I read on the internet unless it's an official announcement. I remember earlier this year, the Road And Track site still reported that for 2003, a 300hp Boxster coupe was going to be available. Yup, damn fine reporting there.