The Cajun is the much-rumored “baby” Cayenne Porsche plans to bring out sometime soon. When I consider the prospect of such a car, I have to consider how it will fit into the market and if it will even work overall. Based on the success of the Cayenne and Panamera, I would definitely say that this car has a very real ability to succeed once in production if properly executed. All of you scoffing purists out there just need to realize: it is cars like these, from which Porsche makes most of their money, that allow them to make all of the pure or wild Porsches that you lust after–so embrace it.   

First things first, this car must be a “Porsche”, it must perform as a Porsche and be the most exciting car in its market segment by far. Now I don’t think its any secret that Porsche will most likely be using the Audi Q5’s platform for the Cajun, but if they stop at just making a re-badged Q5 then I don’t see this car being as big of a success as it could be. Porsche must add their magic to the car in order to separate it from the Audi and justify the higher price. Now price wise, the top of the line, V6 Q5 starts just under $50K and the bottom line Cayenne starts in the same realm, so realistically the Cajun’s starting price should be somewhere around 50K as well. I don’t see it having too many issues being in the same range as the base Cayenne due to the practical size difference between the cars. In order to keep the price reasonable, the Cajun will have to use many parts from Audi/VW and not from the Porsche specific parts bin. This will keep the options list from doubling the price of the car, as it can do with the Cayenne, which will serve to further differentiate the buyers of each Porsche SUV. I see the Cajun as a smaller, sportier SUV than the base Cayenne. Some argue that the Cajun should be a two door SUV, but I think that would only limit its market appeal, because people buy cars like this for practicality and usability needs.

The rumored engines for the Cajun seem to be iterations of the 3.0TFSi V6 currently used in the Audi S4. Currently speculation proposes a naturally aspirated version of that motor with 290bhp for the base model, as well as a twin turbo version with around 350bhp for the Cajun Turbo. This seems like a solid plan of attack, although I personally think it may actually be more effective to use the same supercharged 3.0L in the S4 and offer just one model at a nice even price (similar to the Infiniti G35 back in the mid 2000s). Offering two models will mean that the base Cajun will be decently priced, but still above the Audi Q5, and the Turbo will probably be priced a bit excessively for what actually is. Whereas, just having one model would avoid the stigma of the “turbo” model that leads to a $10k price premium alone, and would avoid much of the inevitable competition between the base model and the Audi Q5. Both of these issues, created by having two models, cause some sort of loss in desirability for the Cajun models. Such a loss does not exist for a single model offered in between these two because it will be a good value package with little market competition (especially not internal competition within the VW/Audi group).

I also think the Cajun should also use the same DCT as the S4 over Porsche’s beautiful but very expensive PDK transmission (maybe have it as an option, but they’re both DCTs so it should really matter), because it will keep the price down without sacrificing quality too much. Remember people, this is supposed to be an entry level Porsche meant to appeal to a younger market; price does matter here. Where Porsche should use their parts bin is in the chassis dynamics. The Cajun must be a Porsche, it must have that sporting feel to it and be completely different from the Q5 in this regard.

Porsche should just forget the carbon ceramic brakes as an option on the Cajun because standard Porsche brakes are good enough, and people in this market segment just do not need them. All in all, I think that the Cajun’s price range should start around $50K, and top out under $75K with every option checked. This is where it should be separated from the Cayenne. This is possible with a single model Cajun, but with the dual model range I think prices would realistically be more like $45-65K for the base model, and 55-80k for the Turbo.

Overall, the Cajun would be undeniably upmarket from the likes of the Audi Q5, and Mercedes GLK with its closest competitor being the BMW X3 xDrive35i. It will be much more sporting than the X3 though and I’m sure BMW would have to counter with some sort of M tuned X3. Most likely it will serve to open up a new segment of legitimately sporting small luxury SUVs, something that hasn’t really been tried yet, but definitely seems to have some very real potential at this point given the success of the high performing large SUV segment.

-Nick