Porsche looks beyond sports cars
Station wagon, SUV, coupe are possibilities
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- 2012 European Automakers: Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Volkswagen
- 2012 Chrysler-Fiat Future Product
- 2012 Japanese Automakers: Infiniti, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki
- 2012 Ford Product Plans
- 2012 Korean and Chinese Automakers Future Product
- 2012 European Automakers: Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Rolls-Royce, Smart, Volvo
- 2012 Japanese Automakers Product Plans: Acura, Honda, Lexus, Scion, Toyota
- 2012 GM Product Plans
As a full-fledged member of Volkswagen Group, Porsche is accelerating its move into segments beyond sports cars.
The 911 remains the heart of Porsche, but the Panamera range likely will be expanded to include a station wagon and coupe. A second crossover, the Macan, will be added in two years.
Entry-level roadster: Porsche will not go ahead with plans for a midengine car to attract young buyers. Executives say a cheaper and smaller car developed with Volkswagen would have hurt the brand's image. According to media reports, Porsche is considering developing a smaller car on its own and, if approved, that midengine model could go into production in 2017. The car likely would be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Boxster: The redesigned roadster went on sale this year.
Cayman: The redesigned coupe derivative of the Boxster will be unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show in November. Interior space will increase slightly. The Cayman will be powered by the same 2.7-liter and 3.4-liter six-cylinder engines as the Boxster.
911: The all-wheel-drive variant, the 911 Carrera 4, will debut this month at the Paris auto show and will go on sale in February. The Carrera 4, which will be available as a coupe or convertible, has a wider body than the rear-drive models.
Panamera: The four-door sedan will get a facelift next year.
Porsche is expected to show a Panamera wagon at the Paris auto show as a hint of how it plans to expand the range. The wagon is expected to come in short- and long- wheelbase versions. Porsche also is working on a Panamera coupe and convertible, according to press reports.
The three new versions would be rolled out when the Panamera is redesigned. The next-generation sedan, expected in 2015 or 2016, will share a platform with Bentley and possibly Lamborghini.
Small sedan: Porsche is said to be considering a smaller sedan -- code-named Pajun, for Panamera Jr. -- to compete with the BMW 5 series and Mercedes-Benz E class. It would use a shortened version of the platform planned for the redesigned Panamera. The Pajun would debut in 2017 at the earliest. A station wagon variant is possible.
Cayenne: A 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine was added this year. A freshening is expected in 2013.
Macan: The brand's second crossover will go on sale in late 2014. It shares a platform with the Audi Q5.
918 Spyder: U.S. deliveries of the plug-in hybrid convertible start in late September. Porsche will build 918 units of the range-topping supercar powered by a 4.6-liter V-8 and two electric motors for a combined 770 hp. The car has a seven-speed double-clutch gearbox.
960: A two-seat midengine coupe with a 600-plus-hp V-8 turbocharged engine -- to slot between the 911 and 918 -- is reported to be in the works for a debut in 2015 or 2016.
The 960 would share its platform with the next-generation Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8 and would compete with the Ferrari 458 Italia.
