Motorists waiting for a smaller, more affordable model from Porsche are out of luck. The German company has announced it has no plans to move downmarket in the foreseeable future.
“We are an exclusive sports car manufacturer. We have nothing to gain by creating a cheaper Porsche in the future. It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality in what we do,” explained Detlev von Platen, the brand’s global sales chief, in an interview with industry trade journal Automotive News.
Von Platen’s comments put an end to several rumors that have been circulating around the auto industry for years. Porsche won’t introduce an entry-level crossover positioned a notch below the Macan, which has become one of the company’s best-sellers since its introduction two years ago. And, it won’t expand its lineup with a new mid-engined sports car that’s less expensive than the 718 Cayman/718 Boxster (pictured) duo.
Porsche isn’t moving downmarket, but the company isn’t done expanding its lineup. A station wagon version of the new, second-generation Panamera named Sport Turismo is expected to make its official debut in March during the Geneva Auto Show. An all-electric sedan inspired by the Mission E concept will arrive before the end of the decade to challenge the Tesla Model S, and a battery-powered SUV built on the same platform could arrive shortly after. Porsche has made it clear that it’s embracing electrification in a bid to boost both performance and efficiency.
Beyond that, rumors claim Porsche will build a sports car positioned above the 911 to tackle the Ferrari 488 GTB and the Lamborghini Huracán. Allegedly code-named 960, the model will land with a mid-mounted, eight-cylinder engine rated at no less than 650 horsepower thanks to the use of four turbochargers. Sources close to Porsche say the Ferrari-killer will arrive in 2019.
