REPORT: Norwegian Porsche importer makes horsepower, taxes conspicuously disappear
2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman – Click above for high-res image gallery
Although the Porsche Boxster and Cayman are built right next door in Finland, in neighboring Norway, the sportscars are subject to heavy tariffs due to their relatively high engine output. But according to reports from inside the Scandinavian country, the local importer has found a solution that apparently manages to bring down the price without consequence.
The Norwegian specifications for the entry-level Porsches show that the Boxster produces just 211 horsepower – a significant drop from its 255hp stock spec – while the Cayman is down to the same from 265. The benefit is that by coming in under the cap, the Porsches receive significant tax cuts: the 211hp Boxster saves the equivalent of over $15k, while the 211hp Cayman saves nearly $19k. You'd have to figure that these horsepower cuts, while financially advantageous, would have a negative effect on the cars' performance, but according to the chart, acceleration figures and top speeds remain the same: 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds for the Boxster and 5.8 for the Cayman, topping out at 263 and 265 km/h respectively.
Assuming the numbers don't lie, clearly something is rotten in the state of Norway.
Gallery: 2009 Porsche Cayman and Boxster
[Source: BilNorge.no via WCF]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bhtooefr 9:59AM (11/04/2009)
There's a way that you can get the same performance out of a detuned engine.
Lie and say you detuned it.
Are the Norwegian officials actually dynoing the cars?
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Jared 10:02AM (11/04/2009)
This isn't the first time engines have been under-rated because of politics. Especially if your having to shell out an economy car worth of cash just on extra taxes/tariffs.
scottybiggs 10:27AM (11/04/2009)
Didn't we do the same thing with muscle cars? And the did it in japan too with the GTR and some others.
TigerMil 2:51PM (11/04/2009)
only thing rotten in Norway is the ludefisk.
Betch the new supercharged audi S4 is only rated at 211 hp in Norway too...
kevjohn 10:10AM (11/04/2009)
$19,000 for 54hp?!? Sheesh, that's steep!
Perhaps they just temporarily detune them, then give their appreciative (and $19k richer) customers instructions on how to re-tune them to spec.
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twg 10:16AM (11/04/2009)
Nothing wrong here... just quote power at the wheels instead of power at the crank...
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Slizzo 11:00AM (11/04/2009)
This is the comment I was going to make. It's likely that these guys are quoting at the wheel horsepower and not at the crank horsepower.
BoxerFanatic 10:58AM (11/04/2009)
which shows why government intrusion just causes problems, and doesn't really solve them.
Taxing "extra" horsepower is just damn greedy, no matter what altruistic, beneficial talking points spin they want to put on it.
Don't most european countries already have VAT, and other high taxes on things? More taxes on top of that, I guess.
I don't condone cheating, but sometimes like this... I wonder why not. And if this is skirting by legally, I have no problem with that. I hope it sells more Porsches.
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JimBob 11:03AM (11/04/2009)
That same line of reasoning could be used to argue that driving Porsches is greedy as well, just saying.
James Sonne 11:25AM (11/04/2009)
Tell it like it is BoxerFanatic! This is just poor legislation.
sparrk 12:02PM (11/04/2009)
"which shows why government intrusion just causes problems, and doesn't really solve them." - that's stupid. not all governments are like the US government, some really work. Norway has one the highest living standards in the world and they get payed really well , those taxes don't hurt the people and their government makes good use out of that money.
BoxerFanatic 12:23PM (11/04/2009)
@jim-bob and sparrk...
How is the economic activity of honestly earning a good living, and buying a premium product, greedy?
If you have a rare, scarce skill or quality, and the marketplace values it enough to pay you good money for it, and you can honestly afford premium or luxury items, that is privilege, not greed.
BTW, have you ever been employed by a poor man, who was working for next to nothing?
The government inserting itself through the force of law, to seize more money (NOT EARN IT, any government earns nothing, it takes what it decides to take.)
Taking almost 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS worth of extra taxes, for their preference against higher output engines in peoples cars, is social engineering, theft, and seizure of wealth. It is immoral, and tyrannical, when all the flowery language of false good intention is swept away.
Sparrk can go on and on about how wonderful it is, but that is just socialist dogma. Slaves of beneficial masters are still slaves. Subjects of onerous governments are still subjects.
Taking money that someone else earns is greed. Anyone else but a government would be convicted of fraud or outright theft. Government doesn't prohibit itself, it only prohibits others from doing likewise.
Earning money in the first place, and spending it as you freely choose is NOT greed, it is simple economics, and a bit of human desire for nice things, and the motivating factor in earning them.
Vilifying that as class warfare, and saying "the rich can afford it" is a BS argument. So what. Does that mean that earning more buying power makes someone inherently less free than someone who earns less? Where is equality under the law?
What about the people who earn enough that they could afford a Porsche without the taxes, but WITH the taxes, it puts the car out of reach?
Lowering prices tends to increase demand, because more people can afford that item. That is what spurs economic growth, and better standards of living, not economic stagnation, no matter how well spun that stagnation might be.
sparrk 12:49PM (11/04/2009)
@ BoxerFanatic , too much text , i only read the beginning. don't compare your government and the American way of thinking with other people's mentality. that 19 THOUSAND dollars isn't that much as it used to be for Europeans, especially for wealthy Europeans like the Norwegians (very nice people btw).
no one is forcing them to buy a sportscar, it's their choice and they pay for it. at least their government actually takes care of their people and doesn't start needless wars all over the world. while Americans spend a lot of time whining and bashing their leaders , the Norwegians go on happily with their lives.
sparrk 1:03PM (11/04/2009)
@BoxerFanatic , to clear things up , i come from an ex communist country , i know tyranny, i have felt it on my own skin and what you have in the US isn't far from it. it's a different type of propaganda, but the effect is the same , maybe even worse.
i do believe in meritocracy , i own a 911 , i'm doing quite well and i'm not a socialist, (btw communism wasn't real socialism) , but there are places where forms of socialism work , like Norway for example. i don't mind paying taxes as long as i see the palpable benefits and you can see them in countries like Norway.
if you whine so much about car taxes , you should see the prices they have on alcohol there :)
LushDimbulb 5:15PM (11/04/2009)
Spark, don't listen to BoxerFanatic. He belongs to a class of hypocrite known as a Republican. This particular type of hypocrite wants to live in a first-world economy while paying third-world taxes. This money that he says is 'forcefully taken' is used to pay for schools and colleges that he and his family likely went to, the roads that he drives on every day, the police and military that keep him safe, the medicines that keep him healthy, and even the telecommunications infrastructure that allows him to spew his b.s., etc. In short, this fool has no qualms about reaping the day to day benefits of a first world economy that are made possible by taxes while pissing and moaning that he is being robbed.
If he doesn't wish to pay he is always free to move himself and his little subaru to some third world tax shelter. And one more thing, the fact that he calls this Socialism shows that in addition to being hypocrites that most conservatives are stupid. Our federal tax rates now are lower than they were for most of the last century. Even Bush senior raised taxes, yet only under Obama is it called Socialism. IDIOT!
Andrew 11:05AM (11/04/2009)
All cars in Norway are subject to heavy taxes!
The reasoning being that we need to keep consumption low, for it's own sake, and more recently for the benefit of the "environment" (green taxes).
Norway is very wealthy, has no debt and the economy is still in good shape. So the taxes are NOT needed to finance the national budget!
Because of the taxes even a normal car costs more than $40.000-50.000. You cannot get a car for less than $27.000, not even a small hatchback.
Well, at least our salaries are good. And we do have Universal healthcare :)
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James Sonne 11:26AM (11/04/2009)
Why don't they tax emissions instead of power, then? It's possible to create an efficient and powerful vehicle.
sparrk 12:07PM (11/04/2009)
Powerful vehicles are vanity/luxury goods , bought by people who have a lot of money and who can afford to pay those taxes, maybe a guy with a diesel pick-up truck is polluting as much as they guy with a sportscar, but he bought his truck because he needs it, while no one really needs a sportscar.
Andrew 7:50PM (11/04/2009)
@James Sonne
Actually most European countries already tax on the basis of emissions...
http://www.acea.be/index.php/news/news_detail/co2_tax_on_cars_widespread_in_west_european_member_states
Almost all West-European countries now levy some form of CO2 tax on passenger cars. According to a survey done by ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
Eskimeaux 11:55AM (11/04/2009)
Or just add a restricter plate on the air intake. Top-end horsepower goes down because of the need for more air, low end torque stays the same because its still getting all the air it needs. Ask any WRC car with 300hp and 500lb*ft of torque.
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