Porsche scoop special: Porsche Pajun (2016)

Updated: 26 January 2015

It’s Porsche Scoop Week at CAR Online, as we bring you the lowdown on every future Porsche on our radar. These are exciting times in Stuttgart as Porsche is subsumed into the Volkswagen bosom – and the pace of new model development is accelerating. Stay tuned this week as we uncover every new Porsche sports car coming in 2011, 2012, 2013 and beyond!

Porsche is slowly becoming engulfed in the Volkswagen fold. We’ve already seen Cayenne/Touareg/Q7, they’ve now confirmed the Cajun (a compact SUV twinned with Audi Q5) and next it’s the new Porsche Pajun.

Porsche Pajun? What the hell’s that?

That’ll be Pajun, short for Panamara Junior. Yes – that’s right. It’s a shrunken limo and will be launched in 2016.

The new model range is to be derived from an advanced architecture known as MSB, modular rear-wheel (or all-wheel) drive matrix. MSB will be developed in Weissach for Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini models.

To tie in with the launch of the state-of-the-art rear-wheel drive platform, the sports car maker is preparing a new family of modular V6 and V8 petrol engines as well as a plug-in hybrid package which will be offered alongside a V6 diesel.

Porsche is currently mulling over an array of Pajun models, including saloon, convertible, Pajun coupé and even a shooting brake. There will be Pajuns aplenty!

Once Pajun is in full swing, the output of Porsche should exceed 200,000 units per year.

Porsche Pajun (2016): the engineering story

Although it is clear that 4WD will be an option for all brands involved in MSB, we don´t know yet whether Porsche will attempt to combine this solution with a Ferrari-style transaxle layout which does without a second propshaft like on the FF. Rear-wheel drive is definitely the number one priority for the base Pajuns, which are less dependent on heavy and hard-to-package traction enhancements.

The Pajun is an anti-establishment sedan – a sharp, striking and spirited four-door four-seater. To avoid cannibalisation, the Panamera II is expected to retain its egg-shaped 911-inspired rear end. The Pajun on the other hand would assume an unmistakable and very sporty three-box stance.

This design trait applies to the sedan, the coupé and the convertible. If Porsche wants a shooting brake, it will probably rather use the Panamera II as a donor car.

Porsche Pajun engines

Porsche is of course one of the driving forces behind the modular V engine matrix which is under development for the group´s premium brands. The new entry-level model relies heavily on a brace of 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s, sources tell CAR. The turbocharged direct-injection units develop between 400 and 550bhp.

Alternatively, customers can specify an Audi-sourced 3.0-litre V6 TDI rated at 265 and 335bhp respectively. Also on the cards are a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 good for 600bhp and a plug-in hybrid with 250bhp four-cylinder range extender. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is said to be available alongside the seven-speed manual from the new 991.

>> Come back every day this week for more Porsche scoops

By Rowan Atkinson

Actor, motoring fanatic, part-time racing driver - and former CAR columnist

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