New 300bhp C7S Coupe: not a Boxster, not a 911

This was posted on the PCGB Forum. They aren't my scans so don't blame me for the quality (or copyright). It's taken from Autocar mag 10/01/05. Quotes: "the C7S will be one the greatest Porsches of all time". "the C7S will be an out-and-out driver's car, more focused than both the 911 and Boxster". <<< I have removed the magazine articles because of possible copyright infringment. If you want copies, PM me>>

Quite a stretch to trace a Boxsters heritage back to a 904 - about all they have in common is four wheels. Steve

Looks Uber fun to me. I hope it handles as well as it looks. Chad

"Porsche is a company selling its flabbier products in huge volume on the back of what is still perceived to be a hard-core sporting image, which can only be boosted by the new C7S coupe. In the U.S., the best selling 911 is the C4S Cabriolet Tiptronic" Are the Brits taking a little dig at us Americans driving the "softer" 911 versions? Just remember it was the American market that drove the development of those great cupholders in the 911 that you Brits use to hold your afternoon tea! Andy '02 Targa (6 SPEED)

I don't think that boasting about cupholders is a good thing. Chad

caf: Brits love to take pot-shots at Americans, no idea why, probably because you largely ignore them.

Oh I don't believe this. Here we go...... Next thing ya know you'll be telling me that the US won WW2 so if it wasn't for the US we wouldn't have Porkers. I didn't write this stuff you silly ****. I am just reposing this FYI

I have no interest in the argument but I love the car. Could this be the car the Porsche engineers would build if they had the marketing chains removed? I love the idea of a light, mid-engine coupe. Jim

on one hand: it may be a fantastic car for the track, handling, speed, etc etc. on the other hand: i'm a biggot so it can't be the ultimate porsche because the engine is in the wrong place advertising it a better than a 911 is quite a bold move in my humble opinion, but whatever, i hope it pays off for them. i'll have to call my dealer and tell them to let me know when the clubsport version comes out.

I have many friends in the UK. So I laugh!! BAAAhahahahahahaha C.

Imagine an RSr version dominating the GT class with a 500hp GT3 engine...mmmm. Now just picture the street legal homologation version with a 400hp GT3 engine.

Sloth: That is the first thing I thought of as well. I think this car is going to really be something amazing. I just hope that PCAG prices it accordingly. As in cheaper than the Boxster. It is a coupe after all. Chad

All in fun, Scouser. Thanks for posting the article. I think the car, if it materializes as billed, would be very interesting.

Slap a 350hp beast in that thing, eliminate rear main seal issues...and YES, that would be it!

That is amazing! I've not even heard about it. I'd love to see this car up close. JIMB, what will it weigh???????????????? I'm just messing with you.

I've often wondered what it would be like to be a Porsche engineer. "Build us the best sports car in the world for $70k. Your only restrictions are that it must have 4 seats, look just like a car designed in the sixties and it must have the engine hanging off the back bumper." I'd love to see what would happen if the best engineers where told to just build the best sports car in the world that can be sold for $70k. Maybe this is it.

The reason I suspect they are NOT calling it what it is (a Boxster Coupe) is for pricing sake. Remeber 50K pounds is roughly $93K. NO WAY IS THIS PRICED MORE THAN A 911. Please. Once again, specualtion without PAG giving the blessing. I'll just wait to see what is runs in the showrooms when it arrives.

Is it just me, or by Porsche building more and more models...bother anyone else. Maybe its the fact that we The owners of 911s are a small group of people whom are gererally very proud to be part of this elite group. I gotta tell ya i feel a little ripped off... I mean next thing you know they could be selling cars to compete with sunfires..( not insulting anyone)......Ah maybe ill get over it

I tell you, if it doesn't have rms issues, looks good, handles good, I will get one! I can't afford a Carrera S, I like the Boxster, but it could still have rms issues, and is down on power and torque vs. my 3.4. If this car weighs around 1300kg, puts out 300 horses and 260lb of torque, has no rms issues it's a perfect 50-60 thousand dollar car.

Dell, you can't base it on UK prices as we get totally ripped over here. Example, a new Carrera 997 base model (not S and no options) is �69,000, that equates to about $135,000!!!

If you ask me, its the future as we will know it. It will "replace" the 911 and probably the boxster. I will dig out a Porsche Post mag where the editor says something along this line. Be back in a jiffy.

OUCH! My bad Berny. The wifey and I considered moving to the UK (my family is from there) but the cost of living is outrageous! Even though the $ is weak right now, it still goes further. Looks like I will be a US resident for some time to come.

Smart move from Porsche. Most of us who bought used 911's for around 45-55k USD, would love to buy a brand new 911, but can't afford to pay 90-100k. We want to but into the 911 dream for that money, the Boxster is in the right price range, but we don't all want roadsters. A performance oriented coupe in this price range is spot on, and I'm happy it won't be called a Boxster. Whens it coming out?

And here it is. Dec 04 Porsche Post editorial. I have highlited the interesting bit. Tried to keep the scan small. Sorry it's hard to read. IMO this is clearly stating that the 911 is being phased out. Putting 2+2 together, it's my best that this C7S is the base replacement for the future. <<< I have removed the magazine article because of possible copyright infringment. If you want a copy, PM me>>

Not sure if thats what it means Berny, all I understood was that a new 911 would appear before a new Boxster like what happened in 2004 first 997 then 987.

Not sure about the article, but I agree with what i think Scouser is trying to say. I don't think the rear engine platform is the future for Porsche. A mid engine platform will become the dominant sports car for Porsche. I think the 911 will be phased out and a 2+2 coupe and sedan will be built using the Cayenne V8 (NA & TT) up front. A mid engine platform will become the dominant sports car for Porsche.

How do you phase out a car with such heritage!!! Decades of brand building don't just get tossed away for the sake of novelty and technology. The 911 can keep on evolving for at least another 10 years. Maybe the platform changes but the name will live on.

I think the Brits have every right to dig about the C4S cab tip being the best selling car here, that says to me that your average P car drivers are imagine consicous poseurs who care nothing about really driving a sports car. Why would anyone want to neuter a nice sports car by cutting its roof off and sticking an automatic box in it? And as someone who lives and works in LA, traffic is no excuse. I drive my 6 speed Turbo in traffic all day, are people really that un-coordinated that the mere operation of the clutch pedal is considered such a diffuclt task beyond their ability? You are only driving a sports car for crying out loud. And why would I want to buy this thing for the inflated price when there are cars like the C6 Z06 out there? It doesn't have an M64, it's totally hamster powered, why?

You forget that these people are using the cell phone with one hand and holding their Starbucks with their other hand. To do all that AND shift is quite difficult for most modern Porsche drivers.

Personaly, I would rather not see any mid engine car called a 911. However, I would not be surprised to hear them call it a Carrera. The Carrera name has adorned a mid engine Pcar in the past.

Bwahahahaaa

The DSG could be very interesting as well, I do love manuals, but this could be just as sweet

From Wendelin Wiedeking to reporters at the North American International Auto Show... "Porsche also may decide later this year whether to add another model series to its current lineup. "

i don't think it's fair to "hate" on the cab porsches as not being "true porsches"... i love driving mine and wouldn't have it any other way.. driving through tunnels daily at 100+ mph speeds with a nice exhaust with the top down can't be beat.. i don't care what anyone says look at many sports cars of the past, and many of them were in cab variations.. does that make them any less desierable or enjoyable to drive? to each their own, but a cab by no means turns it from a sports car into an image concious car automatically if that's what you are implying...

There is too much brand equity in the 911 name to drop it. It will likely be rear engined for as long as it's sold Anybody who thinks Porsche is going to serve up a car with MORE performance than a 911 for LESS money has no idea about Porsche's pricing strategy. They are one of the few companies that charge MORE for LESS. Despite the fact that a car may be less costly to build, it by no way means that the savings is to be past on to the consumer. It simply becomes higher margin (profit). As they say in the Guiness ads,............BRILLIANT!

Fred - eminently reasonable...but would not be the first time that a "lesser" model out performed the 911 - and I am setting aside the 80's period of 911 neglect - more than a few hailed the 968CS as the driver's choice of the Porsche lineup in '94 and '95.

why the name C7S, or better yet why C7. I understand the S but not the C7, sounds like a corvette

i'm sure it will have a proper porsche name (Carrera GTS?) or at least one we can refer to it as such My thoughts are that porsche will introduce a 4th model (sedan/coupe like the new MB) to compete against the 5-M5, E class, Etc. I wish they would do a new 356 but that would be asking too much. YMMV

Or even worse Citroen

As for Heritage, it more closely resembles the 1954 550 Lemans coupe than the 904.

I think it's safe bet that IF it outperforms the 911 it will cost MORE than the 911. Porsche hasn't made the mistake of giving performance away cheap for decades. Ever wonder why the 951 or the 968 weren't further developed? They would have easily outperformed the 911 of the day, but no one would pay a premium over the 911 for it. They had to maintain the packing order in the product line. Funny thing, not related. I recall a "developmental" 951 running quite well at LeMans for many hours. It threw a rod, but Porsche didn't want the stigma of an engine failure. So it was officially listed as "electrical failure". The rumor was the rod took out the alternator and wiring harness. Cheers,

I definitley agree with you.... since this offers just as much and more performance than the current 911 line it should be offered at the same price poin and not less... so the selling strategy is "you can have the 911 or you can have the coupe... both offer similar performance... which do you see yourself driving....." Question is... when will it go on sale?

This seems like a far fetched idea ot me...

u da man! Steve 99 996 62 356B 64 356C 76 930

Here is a full pic! Very nice

The reason for a cup holder is not to burn your ***** with coffee daily.

Where'd that come from?? Ah I see UFO