huangester:
They really don't mind if 650S is pushing 8.4second (0-200), because they just don't care....
Stop mentioning the 650S please in the same context as the TurboS. Turbo comparisons are being made with a car costing 50% more and someone has to go half way round the world to find a dealer or workshop. Different species.
Besides, if all potential Turbo buyers decided to order a Mac, they wouldn't get one. It would take McLaren many many years to deliver given their production capabilities. Theoretical rivals for magazine tests.
Currently the only car that could be compared to the 650S is the Speciale and because this car is not readily available for magazine tests, they all borrow a Turbo S to fill pages and websites. Journalistic make believe and otherwise intelligent people fall in this trap.
If TTS can be branded apart from 991S, then there will be a good marketing reason behind for them to jack the price even higher, since they can bump their level against 650s, 458, or Hurrcan, and yet have a bit settled and not soo flashy look, then that might work for TTS.
IMO one of the reasons that successive generations of the Turbo sell, is that they are 911s.
Severing this link would damage the Turbo. But even so, how would they disassociate the two models, when the rear engine and the iconic profile will stay?
If Porsche wish for something more prestigious they should introduce the flat-8 mid-engined model.
I was just at local Macan presentation few weeks ago, the guests are people who already ordered the car, and there are about 500 people in the room, all thinking they now own Porsche Brand... which is 1/4 of the cost of TTS.... The problem is that u can get a base 991 for 1/2 of cost of TTS. and they all call it all 911s. Anybody not familiar with 911s would wonder why would u pay soo much more.... How would Porsche now having Macan for 1/4 of cost of TTS. What would TTS owners feels?? To be honest, I was pretty upset at the presentation..... Glad that I sold the TTS now.
As to the pros/cons of the Macan and the effect on the brand, all has been already said and discussed. We'll have to wait and see how things evolve.
--
"Form follows function"