Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Please note that gratuitous links to your site are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments.
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this thread(Page 1 of 1)
Ken @ Apr 15th 2008 1:18PM
If not saddled by endless regulations, I bet you would see a lot more of this stuff. Problem is, it is such a serious proposition to put a new engine in a car, they can't just 'do it', it has to be a long, expensive ordeal.
Imagine if Porsche decides to make 500 New Beatles with the Boxster drivetrain (bad example, but use your imagination), it would cost countless millions just in regulatory measures.
sledge @ Apr 15th 2008 1:26PM
Actually, as long as they kept it under the numbers for a specialty car (think Caterham/Brabus/SL65 Black Series), they probably would not have to meet all the standards that are set for production cars.
Heck Brabus have been swapping Mercedes engines with their own for years and been quite profitable. The reason why Porsche couldn't / wouldn't want to do it would be that it would damage their brand image (most Carrera GT owners would probably not like their car being associated with a Porsche Beetle) and would not really be worth it.
On a side note, a porsche powered original beetle would kick serious ass!
mk @ Apr 15th 2008 1:36PM
They did. The Porsche 356 did kick butt at the time. The boxer-6 911 did, too.
Both designs related and upgraded from the VW Beetle's design. Upgraded significantly, and porsche styled.
The 550 and 718RSK were even better, with mid-engined layout, which is also why the Boxster and Cayman are so good, and stunted so not to eclipse the current 911 version.