Porsche has temporarily stopped taking orders for its entire model range as the automaker will be updating and re-testing each model to the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) standards, which come into play in September.
“Due to the time this test procedure takes, some models might not be ready for September 1. But we have grown the stocks of each car in the same way we would if a new model year were to be introduced so as to minimise the impact,” a spokesman for Porsche told Autocar.
The WLTP testing procedure replaces the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test, and requires re-testing of vehicles due to its more stringent nature as it moves from laboratory to the real world; though the WLTP itself is still a lab procedure, this is complemented by the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test which is held on the road. This will require vehicles to be retested for a new set of official emissions and fuel economy figures.
This method of managing vehicle orders is commonly employed by automakers for them to fill the gap between one model generation and its successor, according to Autocar. However, this marks the first time Porsche has grown stock for its entire model range to minimise disruption due to a new regulation.
The new testing procedure has claimed at least one victim, the F80 BMW M3, which has been discontinued as BMW says it will not be able to meet the revised regulations in its current form. In February, Porsche dropped all diesel models from its line-up, citing a move of customer demand from diesels to petrols.
Other European countries have reportedly offered a grace period after the September 1 cut-off date for the sale of pre-WLTP cars. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom government is reportedly expected to allow these to comprise 5-10% of a carmaker’s total sales volume, and manufacturers are employing these measures to avoid having a large surplus of non-compliant cars which will have to be scrapped.
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