Porschephiles have a lot to be happy about; since last autumn, the Stuttgart-based sports car maker has replaced half its range, launching both a brand-new 911 and the third-generation Boxster, while also introducing what it claims to be the sportiest version of the Panamera yet, the GTS.
Those looking for a cheaper way to get their hands on a new Porsche, however, will be disappointed. Porsche CEO Matthias Muller told German news daily Wirtschafts Woche that the company has no plans to introduce a smaller roadster, refuting rumors about a new entry-level model that would slot below the Boxster.
Last year, during the Frankfurt Motor Show, Muller said that he would like to see the company develop a smaller roadster model – a sort of a spiritual successor to the 550 Spyder.
Now, though, he says that such a model may undermine the image of the company. According to the report, he didn’t completely rule out manufacturing a smaller Porsche in the future: “A small roadster would currently overstretch the brand. Maybe it needs a next generation of customers, fit to buy a small Porsche roadster”, he said, though he did not elaborate on who those buyers may be.
Perhaps VW’s decision to put the BlueSport roadster, which would share its platform with the “baby Boxster”, on hold citing a lack of potential customer interest, has something to do with Porsche’s decision as well.
That’s because, despite already having a four-model range (Boxster/Cayman, 911, Panamera, Cayenne), Porsche is not afraid of diluting its image by manufacturing a smaller SUV, the Cajun. Moreover, it is also reportedly considering the development of a smaller saloon than the Panamera.
Along with the limited production 2013 918 Spyder and a €400,000 mid-engined Ferrari rival that would bridge the gap between the €250,000 911 GT2 and the €750,000 918, Porsche will double its line-up.
Muller expects the Cajun to sell around 50,000 units annually, helping the company increase its sales from 2011’s 120,000 units to 200,000 by 2018.
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