Porsche Moves To Preserve Macan Sales - Drops Base Cayenne At Same Price

The problem with the Macan is that its base price is $10K too high which caused issues with the Cayenne. It was to have begun at low 40s and then Porsche botched that and delivered it overpriced. All the Macan is doing is killing Cayenne sales. Thus, killing the base Cayenne is all about Porsche realizing its misstep.

This might work, except the local dealership in my city, it looked promising when there was one stripped down Macan at $55k. Then, BAM...enter the $84k Macan...while on the same lot, there are 7 Cayenne SUVs in the $60k range. In fact, this dealer usually has more Cayennes under the $70k price point. Then ANOTHER $80k Macan shows up. We know the option list (including engines) can be outfitted to price both of these vehicles over 6 figures. I think Porsche is going to need to produce more of these $50k-$60k Macans if they want to get the sales numbers they are looking for.

The Macan was originally pitched to dealers that it would be at a price point that it could steal sales from the Lexus RX and thereby fuel Porsche's goals of a big sales expansion. The Macan will NOT achieve that. The Macan and Cayenne are beyond stupidly priced, but the profit is HUGE on each one.

Definitely a smart decision to cut out the base Cayenne. There simply would have been too much overlap with the Macan cannibalizing the Cayenne.

The Cayenne's sales have tanked with everyone wanting the new vehicle as opposed to one with major parts of it dating back to 2002.

Picture the folks at "AutoUnion", nee VW, sitting around and deciding those folks who want a base Cayenne V6 really should be buying a Touareg V6. "Its the same thing". Probably also kept Macan price high to "protect" VW.

LOL, who would cross-shop a Lexus RX and a Porsche Macan? On what planet does that even make sense?

@leej It's got nothing to do with making sense and everything to do with playing the game. American shoppers ROUTINELY cross shop divergent vehicles at the same price point. Market demographic studies show that very clearly. Moreover, when it comes to near-premium and premium products, buyers have very little brand loyalty. Yes, there are people who always get a Mercedes for example, but the majority of near-premium/premium buyers brand surf.

Hang on! What's wrong with having a base Cayenne and a Macan at similar prices? It would be good for the Cayenne. It's the Macan that would suffer. Thus, the base Cayenne has been dropped to boost Macan sales. Also there is a veiled attempt to increase prices across the board. All Cayennes will be more expensive and the Macan has come in at a higher price than anticipated. To cut a long story short, we have the phenomenon of a Porsche cash grab!
To me, the Macan is effeminate and I don't know how any red blooded male would want one in place of a Cayenne. The latter has more utility, presence and off-road ability.
It is annoying that Porsche may have dropped the superb GTS. It is not mentioned in the face-lifted SUVs for the USA. Now all we have is a bunch of turbos with their horrible lag.

Doesn't seem that complicated to produce a new smaller model at a price that is less than the bigger one.