UPCOMING PORSCHE CAJUN NOW CALLED MACAN

We all thought the Porsche Cajun would keep its name. Apparently not. Macan is the final production name. The baby SUV, which falls below and will be cheaper than the Cayenne, is to begin production at the company’s Leipzig factory in Germany. European dealerships are expecting to receive their first consignments of the Macan in 2013. South Africa is in the same boat.

Based on the same platform architecture as the Audi Q5, the Porsche Macan is said to be a sports car that has SUV capabilities, according to its future maker. They also say it’s a real Porsche. By that we assume they mean it will drive like a 911 on platforms, with engines like the 3.0-litre TDI (over 550Nm) and a turbo petrol setting it alight. Of course its primary targets are customers who are currently buying or looking to buy cars like the BMW X3 / X4, Volvo XC60 and homeboy Audi Q5 itself.

Macan is apparently derived from the Indonesian word for tiger and is to become Porsche’s 6^th model after the 911, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne and Panamera.