About That Cajun…

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

When Porsche introduced the world to its first production SUV in 2003, it set off an intense, polarized debate that continues to this day. For some, the Cayenne was a crossing of the Rubicon (no pun intended) leading to the dumbing-down of a proud marque… for others, it was a new, more accessible way to experience the brand. Sure enough, sales of the Cayenne have been good (significantly better than the Cayman and Boxster combined), but Porsche seems to have let passion for its brand run out of control.

Since the Cayenne controversy, every V6 Panamera and Cayman S has given the anti-Cayenne faction evidence of the slippery slope of brand destruction they saw coming with Porsche’s first SUV (and which Jack Baruth traces back as far as the 914). And now, as if to confirm the worst fears of even some of its own executives, Porsche is throwing rocket fuel on the fire in the form of a new, smaller SUV. The question this time: after the Cayenne, Pana V6, and various sins against the fanbase (some more deadly than others), are the purists still fired up enough to rage against the Cajun?

After all, there’s been plenty of time to get used to a Tiguan/Audi Q5-based Porsche SUV. As far back as 2007, spy photos of the “Roxster” were leaking, there was plenty of back-and-forth speculation about production. But then, all of a sudden, Porsche’s sales boss came out and said

We’d rather make money on every car we sell. The larger the segment, the harder it is to make money, so a small SUV is certainly not Porsche’s way forward

Of course the first sentence makes it clear that nobody’s running around Zuffenhausen screaming “won’t someone think of the purist fanbase?” but the message was sent. Porsche “gets it.” Of course that decree predated the VW-Porsche Anschluss, and now that the profit calculations have changed, a small SUV is now officially part of Porsche’s way forward (as we’ve reported for months now). Business, after all, is still business. And as Bertel’s peek at Piech’s Porsche plans proves, there are more brand-direction controversies to come. So the question, Porsche fans, is can you deal with a second SUV?

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Philadlj Philadlj on Nov 30, 2010

    Say Porsche...if you don't mind me asking, when's the launch date for the rear-engined, Volkswagen Crafter-based Porsche Gumbo panel van?

  • Wunsch Wunsch on Dec 01, 2010

    Is it based on the Q5 or the Tiguan? They're very different vehicles. The Q5 uses Audi's MLP like the Audi A4, whereas I believe the Tiguan is on the transverse Golf platform (like the Q3 that doesn't yet exist).

  • EBFlex China can F right off.
  • MrIcky And tbh, this is why I don't mind a little subsidization of our battery industry. If the American or at least free trade companies don't get some sort of good start, they'll never be able to float long enough to become competitive.
  • SCE to AUX Does the WTO have any teeth? Seems like countries just flail it at each other like a soft rubber stick for internal political purposes.
  • Peter You know we’ve entered the age of self driving vehicles When KIAs go from being stolen to rolling away by themselves.
  • Analoggrotto TTAC is full of drug addicts with short memories. Just beside this article is another very beautiful article about how the EV9 was internationally voted by a renowned board of automotive experts who are no doubt highly educated, wealthy and affluent; the best vehicle in entire world. That's planet earth for you numbskulls. Let me repeat: the best vehicle in the world is the Kia EV9. Voted, and sealed, and if you try to deny it Fanny Willis is ready to prosecute you; but she will send her boyfriend instead because she is busy.
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