With tooling, production and launch schedules for the Macan compact SUV finalised, Porsche looks set to turn its attention to the production of a model rumoured to have high-end BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A7 sales firmly in its sites.
Christened Pajun by the press (“Panamera Junior”), the smaller five-door fastback has yet to be given the green light by Porsche, but insiders are speculating the vehicle could make it to showrooms as early as 2016.
Porsche CEO, Matthias Muller, was recently quoted as saying the company had many ideas on what projects should follow the extensive planning that went into Macan, but that a smaller Panamera model would “make an attractive addition to the range” and that, should it make it to market, he would not want it to sell for less than €50 000 (R745 000), an important figure in terms of perceived value for the brand. That would place high-end models like the BMW 550i, Mercedes-Benz E500 and Audi A7 among its rivals.
Expect the Pajun to be built on the Volkswagen Group’s forthcoming (Porsche developed) MSB platform designed to accommodate both rear- and all-wheel-drive drivetrains. This same platform will also likely underpin a future Bentley model, as well as the next-generation Panamera.
With the release of the Macan, Porsche is set to reach its target of 200 000 annual unit sales by 2015, three years ahead of schedule.
