Date:         Fri, 8 Aug 1997 00:01:38 -0400 (EDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         SyncroHead@aol.com
Subject:      VW / Audi / Porsche SUV?  AutoWeek Article

Hi all,
The 7/28/97 issue of AutoWeek has the following news article about a future
SUV from VW....I mean Audi.....I mean Porsche.....Read for yourself:

================================================
SUVW--and Audi and Porsche
Volkswagen and Audi are working on car-based sport/utility vehicles, and VW's
could become the basis for the SUV that Porsche wants to add to its lineup.
VW's will be a compact SUV, similar in size to the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V,
and it will be based on the Golf/Audi A3 platform.  Audi will build its SUV
off the new A6 station wagon chassis.
A VW spokesman didn't discuss potential launce dates, but did say that
Porsche has talked with VW about getting a version of its Golf-based SUV.
 Porsche had talked with Mercedesabout doing a version of the M-Class, and it
continues to study the development of its own sport/utility in the event that
it is unable to find an acceptable joint venture.
=================================================

My comments:
First, it seems quite odd that Porsche would consider a vehicle in its lineup
that would be sourced from VW, especially something as small & "economy
minded" as a Golf derivitive.  I would think that Porsce would be interested
in competing with the likes of Range Rovers, Lexus LX450s, and the new
Mercedes M-Class.  Go figer...

Second, I wonder what all this talk of Golf based SUVs means to the potential
of a VW van based SUV.  I wonder if VW has the inclination to poke it's nose
into two completely different ends of the SUV market at the same time.  The
photo on the Vanagon.com page appears to me to be a car based SUV.  It
certainlt ain't no van.

Regards,
Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg