German Car Zone

Porsche's plans for an SUV smaller than the Cayenne may be on the fast track now that the company is increasing its stake in the Volkswagen Group from 31 percent to more than 50 percent.

Porsche chairman Wendelin Wiedeking had been actively seeking to cooperate with Audi on a new, five-seat SUV for several years. The plan was to use the upcoming Audi Q5--to be unveiled at next month's Beijing motor show--as the basis for the new small Porsche SUV. However, recent comments out of Ingolstadt confirm that Audi board members blocked the move for fear the Porsche SUV would be a sales threat to the Q5.

With Porsche expected to receive two, and possibly three, seats on the Audi board now that Porsche effectively controls parent company Volkswagen, Wiedeking's plans for the small SUV are apparently back on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Audi is set to unveil its new seven-speed double-clutch S-tronic gearbox in the Q5, according to Ingolstadt insiders.

Known internally as the DL500, the transmission has been engineered for longitudinal engine layouts and can cope with torque loads up to 405 lb-ft and engine revs of up to 8500 rpm.

Following its debut in the Q5, the new gearbox will be launched in other Audi models, initially appearing in Quattro models, including the new A4 due out in September, before finding its way into front-wheel-drive models later.


Source: Porsche revives small SUV plan - AutoWeek Magazine

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