Porsche's supervisory board has officially approved for production a compact SUV positioned below the Cayenne. The "efficient and sporty model" will be developed under the somewhat curious designation "Cajun"—the name evokes not only a people originating from Acadia (hey, that's a GMC!) and the rustic cuisine they imported from Canada to Louisiana, but also serves as a contraction of "Cayenne Junior." We first reported on the proposed name on October 1.
The choice of working title should not be confused, however, with the actual model designation—it may be called something completely different when it hits showrooms. There's precedent: For instance, the Cayenne and its sister model, the VW Touareg, were developed under the internal "Colorado" moniker.
Porsche claims the new model will be "light and agile." It will be the brand's entry-level model. The Cajun's technological base will be Audi's modular-longitudinal architecture, its closest relative being the Audi Q5.
The new model is part of VW's plan to expand Porsche's portfolio into further segments. Another is a new mid-engine sports car positioned below the Boxster which will share its platform with Audi and VW variants.
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