Porsche 911 Safari SUV Crossover heading for Beijing Motor Show

Porsche 911 Safari SUV Crossover heading for Beijing Motor Show

Porsche anoraks bemoaned the arrival of the Porsche Cayenne SUV as a sacrilege, but its overwhelming success has allowed Porsche to garner huge profits and plough a chunk of those in to keeping the iconic 911 relevant, appealing and cutting-edge. It’s also allowed Porsche to take the Audi Q5 and turn it in to what appears to be a hugely capable and appealing baby Cayenne in the guise of the new Porsche Macan, but it seems Porsche is planning another SUV step with a model that really does seem a  step too far – a Porsche 911 SUV.

Auto Bild’s Motor Revue is reporting that a Porsche 911 Safarai is heading for the Beijing Motor Show in April 2014 sporting bigger wheels and tyres and a raised suspension to deliver a 911 Crossover.

Based on the 4WD 911 Carrera 4, the 911 Safari will also get off-road capable suspension and skid plates and is aimed at drivers in countries like Russia, China and the Middle East where there’s a demand for high-performance sports cars but where there are many, many roads which aren’t suitable to get the most out of a normal 911.

If the concept 911 Crossover concept at Beijing gets a favourable reaction it seems Porsche are planning to roll out the 911 Safari as a production model in 2016.

We love the Cayenne (and think the Macan has huge promise) but we really do think a 911 SUV is a step too far.

Or are we wrong, and Porsche are right to see a demand for a 911 SUV?

Related Photos: Porsche 911 Carrera 4

Source: C&D

By Cars UK