I know this subject has been talked about a little bit before, but is there a reason why Porsche won't do aluminum for these cars ? I was just reading about the new XJ cars from jaguar that will utilize aluminum bodt structure, not to mention they already have the XK cars as aluminum frames. The new Ferraris are aluminum (612, 430, & upcoming 600), not to mention the new Audis. With more & more high end cars using aluminum how can Porsche not to a look at the benefits of this lighter metal. They dropped a whopping 400 lbs. off the XK, and 200 lbs. off the new XJ. Cheverolet is not only using aluminum on the upcoming Z06, but magnesium & carbon fiber. I'm sure Porsche owners would be ecstatic if you could take off a 100-200 lbs. off this car.

 

Cuts into PAG CEO W. Weideking's year end bonus , simple as that.

 

Yeah, the only reason I can see right now has to do with re-tooling the production line. Jaguar, Ferrari, Audi, etc. have shown that you can keep production cost relatively similar, even with the use of aluminum. Porsches have been getting heavier & heavier over the years. This could be a shot in the arm for performance.

 

Or it may be a sort of, for lack of better words, secret weapon, once all the other manufacturers think they have finally caught up with Porsche, BANG, all of a sudden the 911 will loose 200 lbs, and slap everyone around again! Saving it for last.

The non turbo versions flat 6 oughta be very close to their max HP? So weight reduction is the next thing.

 

I wish. Even if you assume 450 hp for a 3500 lb. car that is a lbs/hp ratio of 7.8 lbs. per hp. If you dropped 200 lbs. that would push you down to 7.3 lbs. per hp. Or an approximate gain of 26 hp (200/7.8) worth of performance.

 

I have a new all aluminum and magnesium Jaguar XJR. It really is ALL aluminum and it is over 400 lbs. lighter than the car it replaces and it is much larger. It feels very light and lithe when conering and the supercharged engine gets it to 60 mph in 4.7 sec. with a 13.2 sec. 1/4 mi time at 107 mph trap speed. All the while surrounded by English leather and real wood everywhere.

Buy reducing the weight this much, Jaguar has made the XJ in a world class leader in large sedans.

If Porsche knocked off 300 - 400 lbs of weight, it would also totally transform their cars. IMHO

 

http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/040507.html

something corvette adopted on the new z06