Porsche Will Produce New SUV Called Cajun

Porsche is introducing a smaller SUV called the Cajun into its lineup. SUVs have proven to be a major profit center for Porsche, along with its four-door Panamera.

The press release from Porsche is light on details about the new Cajun beyond the basics that a new, entry-level SUV is coming. The supervisory board gave the management board the green light to add a new model. The press release says, “The Supervisory Board instructed the Board of Management to drive forward the development of a further model series up to series production. Under the working name "Cajun", this efficient and sporty model will further expand the world’s most successful Porsche segment in the SUV sector.”

Porsche is hoping to attract entry-level buyers into its lineup with the new SUV (as well as a younger demographic). It’s positioning the Cajun alongside the Boxster, its popular two-seat sports car.

It’s not known what impact the introduction of the Cajun could have on Cayenne sales, which have been strong since it debuted last May. Porsche has sold 10,292 of the SUVs in the last six months.

The Cajun announcement confirms what was reported in TorqueNews last week about Porsche product expansion. It was under the working name Cayun, but there may have been legal problems securing that name. Product details are expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2011.