If you look beyond the headline of Porsche’s most recent press release, there’s some pretty interesting information buried in there. Not wanting to take away from the debut on the new 911 Cabriolet, Porsche quietly announced that the Cayenne Diesel is confirmed for the US sometime after the spring debut of the Porsche Panamera GTS and before the Cajun in 2013.
Porsche to Unveil the 911 Cabriolet in Detroit
It’s safe to say that last year’s Detroit show was most likely a bit more exciting for Porsche fans than what is planned this year. That’s not to say there’s nothing fun about a world premier, especially one that shows the drop top variant of the new 2012 911. It’s just that it’s hard to compete with the premier of the Porsche 918 RSR. Unlike the 918, it’s a safe bet that the 911 Cabriolet will still be on hand when the show opens to the public this year (unlike the disappearance of the 918).
What’s With Yet Another Porsche Model
The Cabriolet was a given, but the Cayenne is somewhat of a surprise. However, if Porsche wants to continue their impressive sales growth they need new models (like the Cayenne Diesel) to move them along.
In 2011, Porsche’s dealers in the USA sold 29,023 Cayennes, Panameras, 911s, Boxsters and Caymans to US customers. That was 15 per cent more than in the previous year. For 2012, Porsche expects sales in the US to exceed 30,000 units. Seems pretty conservative to me given the size and importance of the US market to Porsche.
“The USA is and remains an important market for Porsche with good growth prospects,” said Bernhard Maier, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Sales and Marketing. “By building a new headquarters in Atlanta in the US State of Georgia we are underlining our growth ambitions in the region,” continued Maier.
Porsche’s new US Headquarters
The complex, adjacent to the new terminal of Atlanta’s international airport, will comprise not just modern, energy-efficient offices for approximately 400 employees but also the technical service department as well as a training center and circuit where customers can test the Porsche vehicles’ outstanding driving characteristics. The new US headquarters, which will for the first time centralize all administrative, training and sales functions and financial services, is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2013. Porsche Cars North America has been based in Atlanta for the past 13 years. Porsche also plans to build an additional customer test facility in Carson in California, between the airports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Porsche is investing more than 100 million US dollars in the Atlanta head office and test facility in Carson.
Related Porsche Posts
Pictures, Pricing and Video of the 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet
A 10 Minute Look Behind The Scenes on How Porsche Road Tested the New 911
Our First Drive in the 2012 Porsche 911
Porsche Chooses a Diesel to Mark Production of the 250,000th Cayenne