Re: 4 - Zylinder confirmed!
What really is the justification for (re-) introducing a 4-cylinder Porsche? Is carbon emissions the primary reason? Once Porsche gobbles up VW, does not the CO2 average get spread among the entire VW/Porsche fleet?
As regards a mid-engined 4-cylinder Porsche, have we not seen one already in the 70's, i.e. 914? Given that, a shared venture with VW wouldn't be the first time Porsche and VW collaborated together on a "sports" car.
Regardless of what happens, dreamcar is right. Porsches are everywhere. I was at a suburban stoplight today; including my own car, the group of 15 waiting cars included a 997.1, 987.1, 986.2 and 986.1. That P-cars are more common (and more reliable) doesn't bother me. What would bother me is if non-car guys get outnumbered in their Porsches by the "me too" crowd ...also driving Porsches. Then I'll know it's time to move on to the remaining dedicated sports car marques -which, in similar price brackets, leaves Lotus at the entry-level end, and Ferrari toward the (way) higher-end. 'Till then, it's the Boxster S and maybe a 997 S for me.
--2008 Boxster S