Report: Porsche Panamera, 911 Platforms Could Be Shared With VW Group Cars, Says CEO

Porsche’s new CEO has said that the German sports car maker is open to sharing the Panamera platform with other Volkswagen Group brands. He even went so far as to say that (gasp!) the iconic 911 platform could be used across brands.

Michael Macht, the new Porsche boss who was practically hand picked by Volkswagen to run the brand after the former CEO was ousted, has said that he would like Porsche to operate as an independent but cooperative pillar within the expanding VW Group umbrella. “Porsche needs to become a strong pillar of VW, as well as having its own production and research and development capabilities. It is important to 
use synergies as well as having independence,” he said in an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar.

Ever since Porsche’s attempt to take over Volkswagen failed and VW turned the tables by buying Porsche, rumors of product sharing started popping up. Stoking those flames were reports that Volkswagen would cut the Panamera, leading some to speculate that the new vehicle would live on as an Audi, Bentley or Bugatti product. This, however, is the first we have heard about opening up the 911 platform for use by other automakers.

Macht did say that apart from the V6 engine that will find its way into an upcoming Panamera model, Porsche would not use any other VW powerplants.

Porsche is also rumored to be working on a smaller sports car that would fit in under the Boxster. Thought to be based on the VW BlueSport, Macht said that such a car would have to be “exclusive,” which could mean that if a Porsche does get the sports car platform, neither VW nor Audi would.

[Source: AutoCar]