To make up for the disappointment when Porsche was chosen over Audi to develop sports cars and luxury sedans for VW Group, Audi will be developing SUV platforms for the company.
This means that the platforms for the next-generation Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, and Audi Q7 will be engineered by Audi. The current models were engineered by Porsche. It will be a while before the Audi-engineered Cayenne and Touareg are released, as new ones were unveiled just this year, but a new Audi Q7 is due in two years.
A Porsche spokesman insisted that this is not badge engineering:
“This is not badge engineering. Porsche will be responsible for the engines and performance of the next Cayenne. It will drive like a Porsche and perform like a Porsche.”
Audi will also be responsible for the underpinnings of the upcoming Porsche Cajun. The Cajun will share its underbody with the Audi Q5.
Source: Automotive News – sub. req.
ast week it was revealed that Porsche will head the development of new modular sports car and luxury sedan platforms for the entire Volkswagen Group, with the guys from Stuttgart destined to be responsible for a range of new models including a possible entry-level sedan from Bentley and a mid-engine sports car for Audi.
The decision, made by Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn, would have come as a major blow to Audi, which had lobbied significantly for the opportunity. There was reportedly a great deal of infighting taking place between Audi and Porsche over who would gain the opportunity.