Purists were aghast when Porsche first revealed plans for the Cayenne SUV, and many predicted that it would flop. Reality proved a bit different as the Cayenne went on to huge sales numbers. 

When Porsche revealed it would add the Panamera sedan to its model line, traditionalists again rolled their eyes and expected the bulbous 4-door to fail. It, too, has flourished.

So what does the German performance-car powerhouse do to follow up on those against-the-grain achievements? Think small.

The automaker is already set to spin off a smaller version of the Cayenne, called the Macan. And now the German magazine Auto Bild reports that Porsche is planning a downsized adaptation of the Panamera that will debut around 2017. Code-named Pajun, the smaller sedan would bump the number of Porsche models up to six and ostensibly compete with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and CLS-Class coupes. Currently in the Porsche stables are the 911, the Boxster/Cayman series, the Cayenne and the Panamera. Next year the company will begin building the Macan.

A Porsche spokesman previously told Reuters that the company was considering several different ideas for a sixth model, and CEO Matthias Mueller has stated that Porsche may expand its offerings to seven model lines to help the company hit its goal of increasing sales by twofold, to around 200,000, by 2018.

According to Auto Bild, the new Pajun sedan would cost between $84,100 and $129,500, in case you want to start saving up now.

[Source: Automotive News.]