PORSCHE has become the first car maker to harmonise pre-tax prices across Europe. But the pan-European pre-tax pricing strategy only applies to the 11-country Eurozone, excluding the UK. A spokesman said: 'In Britain, the price will continue to be set in the national currency and not in Euros because the Pound is not a part of the Euro system. Price differences may occur here when compared to the European mainland, due to exchange rate fluctuations.'

The harmonisation means an average 2% rise in prices for the rest of Europe, where a Porsche Boxster now has a pre-tax price of £23,503. Its UK on-the-road price is £34,232. The 911 Carrera now has a pre-tax price of £40,590 in countries such as Germany, France and Italy: in the UK, it costs £60,217.