Porsche Pajun to target Merc E-Class and BMW 5 Series

Zuffenhausen eyes high-volume medium-large sedan segment with an all-new contender
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Porsche’s model proliferation appears set to continue, with a report by Germany’s AutoBild magazine suggesting a mid-side contender codenamed Pajun will launch in 2017, taking the fight to the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series.

Earlier reports indicated the mid-sizer would surface in 2016, but it now appears the launch has been pushed back a year.

Details on the E-Class/5 Series rival are sketchy, but it’s believed it will be underpinned by the VW Group’s latest-gen MLB platform, which also forms the basis for the imminent Macan compact SUV.

Euro reports suggest the Pajun will be offered with a range of V6 petrol engines punching out from 235kW to 382kW, supplemented by a diesel with 230kW. However, these figures are speculative and as yet unconfirmed by Porsche.

It’s possible the line-up may also include a hybrid variant, reflecting the strategy of the Cayenne and Panamera.

AutoBild magazine reports pricing will span from €65,000 ($83,500) to €100,000 ($128,500), but you’d probably need to more or less double these figures to arrive at an indicative Australian price range.

As an interesting aside, US website Autoblog points out ‘Pajun’ is the Korean word for a seafood pancake, while in Finnish it means willow. Autoblog goes on to mention Pajun’s Welsh translation is ‘Cajun’ – coincidentally, or not, the codename by which the Macan was initially known.

However, the official explanation for the Pajun name is that it’s short for Panamera Junior.

Its eventual arrival (provided it does come to fruition) will further flesh out Porsche’s model line-up, which already includes the 911, Boxster/Cayman, Cayenne and upcoming Macan.

Also in the pipeline are the 918 Spyder and a spiritual successor to the Porsche 550, which may be twinned with a VW offering based on the BlueSport concept, although excessive cost could rule out a Veedub version of the junior roadster.

The product offensive is in line with Porsche’s stated objective of increasing global annual sales to 200,000 vehicles by 2018 (the brand sold 118,867 cars in 2011).

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