Does the Model Name of a Porsche Make a Difference?

Last week when Porsche announced the Macan (the official model name of what we all knew up ’till then as the Cajun) there were lots of discussions – some good but most bad – around the new name. Some thought it was better than the presumed “Cajun” while others thought it just as bad, if not worse.

Porsche themselves went to great lengths to explain their naming choice. The press release even talked about the meaning behind some of their past naming decisions: 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 Tourismo, capable also of winning the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race.

So, I ask you this, when it comes to the name of anything other than the Porsche 911, does it really matter? Do you think Porsche will actually sell more or less of the new baby SUV because of a poor naming choice? Would you buy (or more importantly not buy) a Porsche based on the model name?