Autoblog

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Despite what recent spy photos might suggest, Klaus Berning insists that Porsche isn't working on a baby Cayenne. The Porsche marketing executive spoke with Auto Motor und Sport on a variety of topics, from the production of the Panamera sedan to the expansion of Porsche's worldwide dealer network.

Berning told the German pub that Porsche's board hasn't discussed a smaller SUV to slot in below the Cayenne, nor is it considering a successor to the two-door 928 based off the Panamera's FR platform. According to Berning, Porsche's resources are tapped out with the launch of its new sedan, and that development and production of another model would be too much for the automaker to handle at present. Interestingly, Berning admits that the Panamera has the potential to cannibalize Cayenne sales, so despite Porsche predicting yearly sales of the sedan to reach 20,000 units, the automaker expects that overall sales will remain around 100,000 units.

Additionally, Porsche expects to employ another 2,100 workers in the coming years, both in the manufacturing and dealer sectors. The automaker is looking to expand its reach into Russian and China, two of the world's fastest growing markets.


[Sources: Auto Motor und Sport via The Local]

Wendelin Wiedeking said so himself: "there will be no baby Cayenne." He was telling the truth, but according to latest rumor he simply didn't finish telling the truth. There will be no baby Cayenne that is sold alongside the current Cayenne. But it is speculated that the current Cayenne, for its next generation, will get smaller. After succeeding spectacularly with the Cayenne, Porsche has supposedly decided that it wants to inject the car with better performance and a more car-like driving experience.

All that means is: they want to CUV-ify it. Engines would be carried over, which would give the car the same power yet potentially better mileage. Porsche is pegging 24 mpg. But the Cayenne hybrid, especially with less to drag around, could increase that appreciably (for what will still be a heavy vehicle), since Porsche is projecting 26 mpg for the hybrid at its current size. So here's an SAT word game for you: Touareg is to Cayenne as Tiguan is to....?

[Source: eGM Car Tech]

According to our friends over at Motor Authority, Porsche exec Wendelin Wiedeking has officially denied the development of a cute 'ute designed to slot in below the Cayenne. This news is contrary to last month's report from Autobild that Porsche intended to share a platform with the upcoming Audi A5 and Volkswagen Tiguan, dubbing the stillborn model the "Roxster." This most recent news confirms another story reported back in May.

Wiedeking used his opportunity at the podium today to dispel the rumor and to hype the upcoming sports sedan, the Panamera. However, no word from Wiedeking about a successor to the 928 that could conceivably share a platform with the front-engine, four-door sports car.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Fughedaboudit. That's what Porsche is saying about German magazine Auto Bild's claim the sports car maker is going to build a smaller companion ute to the Cayenne called the Roxster that would share its DNA with the upcoming Q5 from Audi. The Stuttgart-based automaker issued a statement that was originally reported on the Dow Jones Newswires denying the Auto Bild report.

No reasons were given as to why the Roxster won't be built, which is odd since we imagine it would be an easy business case to make. Just like the Cayenne shares many components with the Audi Q7 and Volkswagen Touareg, the Roxster would also share parts with the soon-to-arrive Audi Q5, as well as other models in the Audi range like the A4 and A6.

And who is Porsche kidding? This is one automaker that can longer claim its brand is sacred. The Cayenne looks like the Bearded Lady wearing a ball gown and the Panamera also takes the Porsche identity and applies it to an odd form. The Porsche badge could be applied to a riding lawnmower at this point (and it would sell!). Regardless, the official word from Germany is that the Roxster is not going to happen, which will just leave more sales for the BMW X3, Acura RDX and Mercedes-Benz's new CUV, the GLK.

[Source: Road and Track]

The Porsche with the coolest name, Roxster, is being scooped by German website Autobild. While we'd like a Roxster to come with a Matchless and a Tele, the actual vehicle will be a Cayenne Mini-Me, sadly having nothing to do with rock or roll. Well, maybe rocks, depending on its offroad chops.

The basis for the small CUV with the big name (and price) will be the upcoming Audi Q5. There's no word on what the powertrain will be, but there's a wide corporate pool of bits – the Q5 is based on elements of the A4 and A6. Conveniently enough, since the Q5 is reported to borrow liberally from the VW Touareg, the Roxster could complete the circle and share some engine and transmission choices with the bigger utes. We'll keep our fingers crossed for the Cayenne Turbo's insane nuclear-powered motor to wind up under the bonnet, but we think reality will have a V6 of some flavor working away under there.

Thanks for the tip, Christian!

[Source: German Car Blog]