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REPORT: Porsche planning mini-Cayenne
Remember when Porsche only made sportscars? It's hard to recall when its line-up has been growing with sport-sedans and sport-utes, but we're assured it wasn't all that long ago. Somebody needs to remind the herren in Stuttgart, though, because if the latest reports are to serve as any indicator, Porsche is drifting further into the mainstream and away from its erstwhile core purpose.
After the Panamera four-door hits the market, insiders are speculating that Porsche's next project will be to produce a baby brother for the Cayenne sport-ute. Positioned against the BMW X3, a baby Cayenne could potentially share components from the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q5 to help keep development and production costs down, although it would be built in-house at the new plant Porsche has built for the Panamera. Power would be tipped to come courtesy of the Cayenne's V6 and V8 engines, though we wouldn't expect a turbo version.
A smaller version of the Cayenne would undoubtedly be one of the best performing mini-utes on the market, but is this just another answer to a question no one was asking?
[Source: AutoZeitung via Motor Authority]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ford Mustang 9:56AM (3/29/2007)
"is this just another answer to a question no one was asking?"
Probably, but that doesn't mean that this one wouldn't sell like hotcakes too.
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Mike 10:40AM (3/29/2007)
"Porsche is drifting further into the mainstream and away from its erstwhile core purpose"
I call BULLSHIT on that comment. How can you say that? Have you driven a Cayenne Noah? The Turbo S is one of the fastest things on the road, hands down, nevermind that it is probably the fastest, quickest (yes there is a difference) and best handling SUV on the market. Porsche designed one hell of an SUV and kept true to their heritage while doing it. That gives them a ton of credibility in my book.
I don't remember anyone begging Jeep for a four door Wrangler either, now their are waiting lists and $2000 dealer markups on them. If Porsche makes a Nissan Murano-sized SUV and it still performs and looks as great as its 911 I could imagine one in every supermarket parking lot in no time. It's a great business decision on their part.
Way to expand your customer base while keeping true to your roots Porsche, keep it up!
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akatsuki 10:34AM (3/30/2007)
The bigger issue is why they feel the need to expand even as they tighten their control over VW/Audi? Overlapping, indistinguishable product lines helped kill the US car industry, and the VW group is no stranger to the problems it causes.
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Steve Shin 2:29PM (3/29/2007)
I agree, we all remember that Porsche almost went bankrupt some decades ago. Sometimes a company needs to sell a product that may not stay true to its brand's initial intention to stay profitable.
The Cayenne has been immensely profitable for Porsche, no reason a smaller ute would do the same. I would think sports car enthusiasts should look at the economic side of the argument: volume sellers help Porsche keep sports cars like the 911/Cayman/Boxster alive. We've all seen how great niche automakers such as TVR, Aston Martin and Lotus get passed around like trading cards.
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Todd 11:10AM (3/29/2007)
This is awful. Mike, let's hope it looks as good as the 911 and not as fugly as the Cayenne.
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Chris 12:08PM (3/29/2007)
This just shows that you can make money on selling only sports cars, but it you want more you have to branch out.
Look at alot of sport's car makers, some have branched out to meet popular demands. Take Aston Martin and the Rapide. Or Lamborghini's LM002.
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Peter 11:49AM (3/29/2007)
> is this just another answer to a question no one was asking?
Puhleeze. I'm no fan of SUVs, but if they were a question no one was asking, nobody would buy them. Quite obviuosly the opposite is the case.
Building cars nobody was asking for is what Porsche was doing in the 80s. Managment considered 924/944/928 to be the future, development of the to be phased-out 911 had virtually come to a standstill. By the early 90s they were inches away from going bust. Now they're about to take over Europe's largest car company. Must be doing something right...
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Mark 12:44PM (3/29/2007)
"Remember when Porsche only made sportscars? It's hard to recall when its line-up has been growing with sport-sedans and sport-utes..."
Could someone explain what sedan is in the current Porsche line-up? I'd like to go down to the dealer and see it. What's that? Oh just the usual sloppy reporting and writing from Autoblog. Never mind.
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wetstuff 12:40PM (3/29/2007)
The Cayenne is simply the answer to: "I want a Porsche I can haul stuff in." ...no rocket science?! You think this customer wants a Durango?
And then bringing in one that doesn't top out at $100+k is simple economics. The 997 and Boxster are for us other customers. I've always been puzzled by the over-reaction of people who don't drive either.
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Corey Baines 3:20AM (3/30/2007)
Baby-'ye? Or yuppie device?
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rod 1:16PM (3/29/2007)
Ugh. Another SUV from what used to be a sports car company.
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rod 1:17PM (3/29/2007)
Ugh. Another SUV from what used to be a sports car company.
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Mike 2:08PM (3/29/2007)
Mike (Post #2): Compare figures from the Cayane Turbo to the Grand Cherokee SRT8... the Cayane wins only in higher price and better interior.
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DPC car videos 3:01PM (3/29/2007)
We currently have a BMW X3 and if Porsche decides to make the small SUV, there is a great chance that they can have me as a buyer.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
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Dave 8:09PM (3/30/2007)
You know what I find irritating. That people are still criticizing Porsche for expanding their product base after how many years. Porsche is even more successful because they did add to their product line.
Also, I am surprised that criticism is coming from a website that SEEMS like a group of auto enthusiasts. Its really time to accept it and move on.
Kudos to Porsche for being one of the best damn auto manufacturers in the world!
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Nik 4:28PM (3/29/2007)
I believe Porsche was working on a 4-seater long ago. I think they cut the program when the company almost went under and had to hire some Japanese business-men to help restructure and cut costs. The whole idea of a SUV isn't exactly new to them. Besides, if they are upping their stake in Volkswagen, who are we to complain about what they should do with their money? They obviously have been making some good decisions lately.
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Mike G 4:59PM (3/29/2007)
I know! Let's take a sports car and fatten it up and remove all driving thrills just so we can stuff in a few more suitcases full of crap. Brilliant!
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Peter 5:24PM (3/29/2007)
> I believe Porsche was working on a 4-seater long
> ago. I think they cut the program when the company
> almost went under
That was the 989. Development of that car was in a very advanced stage when it was axed as there were serious doubts about there being a market for such a car. The new 4 seater will be the Panamera, due to be out in 2009. This time they seem to be quite a bit more confident, quote Wiedeking "The Panamera is going to go dynamite fishing at the competition"...
> I know! Let's take a sports car and fatten it up
> and remove all driving thrills just so we can
> stuff in a few more suitcases full of crap.
> Brilliant!
No, obviously the Cayenne is not supposed to be a sports car. But if, for whatever reason, you decide to need a SUV, the Porsche will be the sportiest you can find.
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