Bigger Porsche than Cayenne coming

PORSCHE is developing a family-sized SUV that is larger, longer and wider than the Cayenne; this is according to US dealers, who were recently shown a rendering of the as-yet-unnamed vehicle.

 

The seven- or even eight-seat model – which will become Porsche’s first three-row SUV – was described by one dealer as having a “rakish” profile. Another source said that the Zuffenhausen-based firm’s upcoming model was “a new style of vehicle… part sedan, part crossover”, hinting that it could take on a form similar to that of the Panamera or even the all-electric Taycan.

 

A Porsche Cars North America spokesperson said the company wouldn’t comment on future models, but that it was “very open (to) sharing ideas under an initiative (called) Porsche Unseen, the majority of which don’t make it beyond the ideas stage”, he said.

 

“It’s very un-Porsche-like,” said a dealer who also saw the rendering. “It has a flat rear design. It’s not anything like the Macan or Cayenne.”

 

Automotive News Europe reported that the model was expected to be unveiled before 2030 and that the full-size family hauler would probably feature a plug-in or even a full-electric drivetrain. 

 

The new model will likely to be a spin-off of Volkswagen Group’s upcoming large electric SUV model, which is under development for Audi, Bentley and Porsche. Codenamed Landjet – and previewed as the Audi Grandsphere recently – the range of full-size models is expected to offer unprecedented autonomous driving abilities and an optimal range of up to 650km.

 

The Landjet will be assembled at Volkswagen Group’s new factory in Hanover, Germany.  

 

Automotive News Europe said the addition of a family-hauler under the Porsche brand would help the sports-car marque to attract a younger clientele. According to AutoPacific’s 2021 New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey, the median age of Porsche car owners globally is about 60 years of age, versus 38 years of age for other SUV models within the Volkswagen Group portfolio. 

 

“The current Porsche crossover SUV portfolio can only accommodate small families, (because) both Macan and Cayenne are two-row models,” AutoPacific analyst Ed Kim said.

 

“By adding a three-row model, Porsche crossover SUV owners will no longer need to leave the brand as their families grow in size,” he added.

 

Porsche introduced the Cayenne in 2002 and the Macan in 2013, both of which have gone on to become popular models in the brand’s line-up. A seven-seat SUV would give Porsche a model in the popular luxury segment and a rival to the likes of the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

 

Locally, year-to-date sales numbers of the Cayenne Coupe (379) and SUV (358) have eclipsed those of the Jaguar F-PACE (388), Genesis GV80 (234) and Maserati Lavente (323). However, the model failed to trouble the segment leaders: Audi Q7 (1380), BMW X5 (2648) and X6 (475), Range Rover Sport (1389), Lexus RX (1615) and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe (900) and SUV (2912). 

 

Sales of the Macan tell a similar story. The luxury medium SUV’s year-to-date sales figure of 1880 units was well ahead of rivals, such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport (756), Genesis GV70 (167) and Alfa Romeo Stelvio (155), but trailed those of the Audi Q5 (3067), BMW X3 (3466) and X4 (782), Lexus NX (2762), Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe (724) and SUV (2786), plus Volvo XC60 (3065).