As it turns out, Porsche won’t be keeping the name Cajun for the production version of its upcoming junior SUV as the Stuttgart-based automaker announced today that it will be named “Macan”. Porsche says that the name is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger.
“The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of a SUV and is a genuine Porsche”, said Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Porsche. “The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in very many languages and dialects and evoke positive associations.”
The Cayenne’s baby brother will begin production at Porsche’s plant in Leipzig next year. For this reason, the German company has invested €500 million (US$652 million) to turn the facility into a fully-fledged production plant including body assembly line and paint shop.
The Makan will be based on the platform architecture of the Audi Q5. It is believed that the two models will share key hardware components including engines, steering, transmission, axles and even Audi’s Quattro four-wheel-drive with Porsche developing its own braking, suspension and dynamic control systems to offer sportier handling characteristics to its baby SUV model.
Along with the announcement on the name, Porsche also released a video teaser and a drawing of a five-door model. The sketch looks very similar to the drawing of the second-generation Cayenne sans the different shape of the lights that resemble those of the latest 911.
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