With sales for next year now expected to miss initial targets, Porsche is looking to be proactive and cut costs to help balance the books. According to company boss Matthias Muller, that could also mean delaying a key product launch.

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“The flat-4 is just a rumor,” confirms Porsche Canada CEO Joe Lawrence, speaking over the weekend at gathering of P-car owners at the ALMS race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. Lawrence does, however, admit that if it was up to him, it might not be, and even went on to comment further about the iconic sports car brand and the real world realities of fuel economy and emissions.

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Plans for a cheaper, smaller entry-level model from Porsche have been dropped according to CEO Matthias Mueller, essentially laying to rest the idea of a baby Boxster model.

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It’s been rumored for quite some time now, but Porsche has finally confirmed plans for a 4-cylinder boxer engine.

In an interview at the Detroit Auto Show, former R&D boss Wolfgang Durheimer told AutoCar that the new engine could feasibly be used for the Boxster and Cayman. It’s also believed to be introduced in the upcoming baby-Boxster, based on the same platform as the VW Bluesport.

Sources familiar with the project have said the engine displaces 2.5-liters and has been tested up to 360-hp in a turbocharged format.

With the continued downsizing of engines, Durheimer even went so far as to say a 4-cylinder could eventually find its way into a the 911 – but not now.

[Source: AutoCar]

Porsche will again move forward with plans to build a new entry-level sports car, as well as a smaller SUV, while expanding its hybrid technology in the years to come. As its own entity, proposals for the baby-Boxster and smaller Cayenne were both axed, but under the new Volkswagen management the cases have been reexamined with the small roadster being given the green light while a compact SUV is still under consideration reports Automotive News.

The smaller Boxster model will join the range around 2013, as a new Boxster model arrives and grows in size. As expected, both Audi and VW could get versions of this roadster – which makes sense considering the first such example of this vehicle was shown as the Volkswagen Bluesport Roadster (above).

As for a smaller Cayenne, it’s expected to be built off the Audi Q5 platform.

In addition to these two models, Porsche will look to expand its hybrid offerings with plug-in hybrid versions of the Cayenne SUV and Panamera that will boost fuel economy even further.

As for the rest of the product lineup, over the next few years we could see a fully electric Boxster if the Boxster EVs that are set to be tested next year prove worthwhile. In addition, we could see a 4-cylinder Boxster in the future, while a Panamera convertible is still under consideration by Porsche exec.

[Source: Automotive News via Cnet]

Porsche has officially confirmed that it is looking at bringing a baby Boxster model to market. Rumored to have been in the works for some time, VW Chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn told the U.K.’s Autocar that such a sports car is under considreration.

When pressed on the issue, Winterkorn responded; “Let’s just say we do not usually waste our effort…”

According to the report, the sports car, rumored to be called the “new 356″, won’t really be that much under the current Boxster, as Porsche looks to take its Boxster model further up-market. Power would come from a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, making roughly 250-hp. This new model will also share its chassis with Audi’s upcoming R4 electric car.

In addition to the new sports car, Winterkorn also confirmed that Porsche is taking a long, hard look at a smaller SUV to slot in underneath the Cayenne.

[Source: AutoCar]