Porsche: Plans for new small Roadster dropped

Porsche boss confirms no 21st century Porsche 550 will be built

Porsche has finally dropped plans for a new small roadster to sit below the Boxster and based on VW’s BlueSport.

The idea of a smaller Porsche to sit below the Boxster has been floating around for what seems like forever. But it seems like the idea has finally been put out to grass by Porsche boss Matthias Mueller.

Mueller has confirmed Porsche has now dropped plans to build a two-seater roadster that would have been smaller and cheaper than the Boxster. Mueller’s logic was clear: ”We would do no good to the brand if we were to lose traditional Porsche customers”, he said.

It would seem that despite the dynamic between Porsche and VW changing in VW’s favour, Porsche is getting their way on the smaller roadster.

Last year, VW boss Martin Winterkorn said that Porsche would be building a new smaller roadster and the rumour was it could get the Porsche 550 or Porsche 551 moniker, but the statement last week to German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung by Mueller does seem to have closed the door on a baby Porsche roadster.

Mueller also said that Porsche currently has no plans to develop a smaller Panamera – the so-called Porsche Pajun (Panamera Junior) – which has been rumoured as on its way for some time, although he did say they may revisit plans for the Pajun in five or six years.

For now, Porsche are pushing ahead with plans to double production, but that will be done by increasing sales of the Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, 911 and Panamera and the addition of the Porsche Macan compact SUV next year, not by building a new smaller roadster or baby Panamera.

By Cars UK