Porsche Automobil Holding SE has decided to name its new sports utility vehicle (SUV) as Macan. Earlier Porsche wanted to name its new SUV model as Cajun, but dropped the idea later and decided to try other names. According to reports, the sports car manufacturing company eventually named its new model Macan, which means tiger in Indonesia. The company finalised this name as it perfectly describes Porsche SUV Macan, which signifies power, dynamic, fascination and suppleness.
According to Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board, Sales and Marketing, Porsche AG, “The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of a SUV and is a genuine 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 new SUV Macan is the fifth model line by Porsche, after the Cayenne SUV, 911, Panamera and Boxter/Cayman.
Due for launch in 2013, the new Porsche Macan will be manufactured at company’s Leipzig facility in Germany. The Stuttgart-based sports-car maker is also looking forward to transform Leipzig plant into a full-fledged production facility that will include paint shop and assembly. This will lead to generation of over thousand jobs. The changes made at the Leipzig facility involve a total investment of 500 million euro.
The company feels that the new Macan, due to launch in 2013, will assist it in increasing the annual sales volume to 200,000 by the year 2018. In 2011, Porsche managed to sell 118,867 units, marking an increase of over 22% from 2010.
The sports car manufacturer has not revealed much information but according to close sources, the new SUV Macan will most likely share the ‘MLB’ platform, loosely based on Audi Q5. Reportedly, Macan and Audi Q5 will have similar engines, transmission and axles. For sportier handling, the company is focusing on the development of braking and suspension systems, along with the dynamic control system for the five-door model.
Along with the announcement of the name of the upcoming compact SUV, Stuttgart-based auto maker also released the first official teaser and video of Macan.
