(February 16, 2012) Porsche today confirmed the name for its forthcoming new sports car in the SUV segment is Macan. Porsche says the name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger and combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics — core characteristics of this new all-terrain car.

“The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of an SUV and is a genuine Porsche”, said Bernhard Maier, executive vice president sales and marketing.

“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 vehicle, previously known under the working title Cajun, will be produced at Porsche’s Leipzig factory and will be a sportier version of the best-selling Cayenne, according to Porsche.



As a new addition to the Porsche model range, the Macan is a key pillar of the company’s Strategy 2018, by which the sports car manufacturer wishes to expand its model portfolio.

The new car will start coming off the production lines in 2013.

The Leipzig site is currently being expanded into a fully-fledged production plant including body assembly line and paint shop. Porsche says that with 500 million euro of investment, it is one of the biggest building projects in the history of Porsche. In the medium-term, the sports car manufacturer will be creating more than 1,000 new jobs.

Porsche says names have an indelible connection with the corresponding model and its characteristics: the name Boxster describes the combination of ‘boxer’ engine and ‘roadster’, Cayenne stands for sharpness, the Cayman is snappy and agile and a Panamera is more than a Gran Turismo, capable also of winning the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race.

Watch the Porsche promotional video: