Porsche is not very happy these days! Not long ago they were the only company with 17 percent gross profit on each car they sell but now, thanks to the global economy downturn, they are struggling to keep the factories up and running! let alone paying their big debts. Of course the deal with the gulf state of Qatar seems to be done in a few weeks, but as the sales are dropping constantly, Porsche decided to cut productions at Zuffenhausen plant.

That’s where the 911 is being built! They say it is an strategic move to save money so they can keep the Leipzig factory, in which the Cayenne and Panamera are assembled, running without troubles. So it will result in total halt of production at Zuffenhausen for some days and another round of cutting produciton volume of the 911 around the Christmas.

Speaking of cutting costs, Porsche has previously announced that they have spent a big lump of money on the Panamera platform so they’re gonna make the most of it. Rumors about a coupe and convertible variant of the four-door super saloon and the 928 resurrection based on the Panamera are still on the streets while recent reports are also saying that a high-performance hardened stiffened-up model is also planned (just like what they’ve done to the Cayene GTS) which will be called Panamera GTS. This car is identical to the Panamera Turbo but instead of that fancy air suspension, features an old school steel springs setup.

Porsche executives also seem to be very keen on having a diesel variant of the Panamera as well. They are currently producing a diesel powered Cayenne and thta’s not doing bad, so why not a Panamera diesel! There is no shortage of choices too since VW has some of the finest diesel engines available in V6, V8 and V10 formations.

via Reuters-Autocar