Does Porsche have PrimeTime appeal?

The promotion for Porsche proudly puffs that the marque delivers 'Intelligent Performance', but recent news makes me question the use of the adjective 'intelligent'.

Actor Peter Bowles, at 81, this week made a slice of West End history as the oldest male to play in a starring role in a stage play - The Exorcist. Stage acting is a demanding profession but Mr Bowles follows a healthy regime and has regular medicals for his film and stage roles - and was recently told he has the blood pressure of a man in his twenties.

However, the former To The Manor Born star was refused access by the garage repairing his Porsche to a replacement Porsche or even a hire car on the grounds that he was 'too old'.

Intelligent motor manufacturers are very aware of the economic value of older drivers - over 80% of top-of-the-range cars are bought by people aged 55 or more. And you don't get much more top-of-the-range than Porsche!

Vehicle designers go to great lengths to replicate the physiological profile of older drivers without diluting the appeal to younger motorists as they know that future demand will be driven by older owners.

Despite this, Porsche has dropped a public relations clanger by disassociating itself from older drivers, the very group upon whom they will rely as our population continues to age.