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Porsche detunes Cayman and Boxster for China


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 Porsche detunes Cayman and Boxster for China

Words - John Mahoney
Slower, less powerful and cheaper sports cars hoped to generate sales interest in coupe and roadster

Porsche is hoping to overcome Chinese buyers lacklustre enthusiasm for sports car by cheaper version of the 718 Boxster and Cayman by offering a new entry-level model of both coupe and roadster.

According to newswire, Automotive News, the entry-level Cayman and Boxster will come with a 180kW version of the new turbocharged 2.0-litre flat-four cylinder.

In Australia the same engine produces 220kW/380Nm.

Performance figures for the Chinese-spec models haven’t been released, but the main reason for the reduction in power is to offer a car for less than 600,000 renminbi ($A120,000 our money) that has been described by Chinese Porsche product manager, Jan Roth, as "a magic threshold for customers".

The German car-maker hopes to emulate the success of Audi’s TT coupe that is popular among buyers, but only when fitted with the cheaper 1.8-litre turbo.

Replacing the six-cylinder Cayman and Boxster that sold for more than 700,000 renminbi ($A140,000), Porsche is confident with the cheaper, less powerful  Boxster and Cayman, sales will rise from 2015's 2500 units to 4500 cars by 2017.

A similar fix is also needed for the 911. Currently Chinese buyers purchase 16 times more Cayenne SUVs than the firm's flagship coupe.

It's almost certain the less powerful versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman will not travel to other markets over fears of damaging resale values of the more powerful models, Automotive News claims.

Powered By Motoring.com.au
 
Published : Wednesday, 10 August 2016
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