PORSCHE

• Mecan is a big part of porsche growth plan

While Porsche sets sales records in the U.S. market, its engineers are feverishly at work to keep the product pipeline fresh with new and redesigned models and spin-off variants.

Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has said at least four new models are coming. They include the 918 Spyder supercar, which goes into production in September, and the Macan mid-sized crossover, which goes on sale in 2014. Other possibilities include a small sedan and a sports car slotted between the 911 and the 918 Spyder.

The Macan alone could get Porsche to its sales goals of 200,000 vehicles globally and 50,000 in the United States much earlier than the projected timing of 2018.

Entry-level roadster: Porsche dropped plans to work with Volkswagen to develop a mid-engine roadster aimed at young buyers out of concern the project could cheapen Porsche's image. Though that worry persists, Porsche developers continue to look at this segment.

One scenario has Porsche sharing architecture with Audi, with a roadster for Porsche and a coupe for Audi. The success of the Macan program could influence the decision-making for this segment. The earliest any vehicle could be ready is 2017 or 2018.

Boxster: After a redesign in 2012, look for new variants. A turbo four-cylinde

r is probable when the model is freshened in a few years. A high-performance Boxster Spyder is likely for 2017 or later.

Cayman: The redesigned coupe went on sale this spring. A more powerful variant is expected around 2015. Beyond that, Porsche has told the Cayman team to develop a high-performance version of the coupe that's as fast as practicality allows. The high-performance Cayman is likely to produce nearly 400 hp and arrive around 2016.

911: Porsche continues to roll out variants of the 911, which was redesigned in 2011. The GT3, Turbo, Turbo S and 50th-anniversary editions will go on sale near the end of this year in the United States. A Turbo cabriolet, to be shown at the Los Angeles auto show, is slated for release early next year. Look for a 911 Targa at the Detroit auto show in January. It will go on sale later in 2014. A GT3 RS is expected in the second half of 2014.

More powerful variants would c

ome next. The GT2 is likely in 2014 or 2015. The high-performance Carrera GTS is likely for late in the model's cycle, possibly 2016.

Panamera: The freshened four-door sedan went on sale Sept. 1 in the U.S. market. The lineup features a new plug-in hybrid going on sale at the end of the year. Porsche says it could sell 10,000 units of the plug-in hybrid during its run. The plug-in hybrid will foreshadow powertrain options for future Porsche models. The 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid is joined by two new extended-wheelbase variants. And the Panamera S and 4S models get a new twin-turbo V-6 engine with more power to replace the former base V-8.

Porsche is expected to redesign the Panamera in 2016 or 2017. A wagon is possible with next-generation family.

Small sedan: A sedan smaller than the Panamera is possible for 2017 at the earliest. The project under study is code-named Pajun, for Panamera Jr., and it would use elements of the next-generation Panamera architecture. The car would go up against the BMW 5 series and Mercedes-Benz E class. The Pajun is not yet approved -- one concern is whether it would dilute Porsche's sports car focus.

Cayenne: A freshened Cayenne is expected in 2015. Spy shots show minor cosmetic changes such as new bumpers and head and taillamps. A new engine is likely. Some reports say Porsche will drop the current V-8 that powers the Cayenne S in favor of a twin-turbo V-6 delivering more than 400 hp. A plug-in hybrid version is possible.

Macan: Porsche's new mid-sized SUV will be unveiled this November at the L.A. Auto Show. It is expected to go on sale in the United States early next summer. It shares a platform with the Audi Q5 and is likely to be a volume leader for the brand. Annual production could reach 75,000 units or more, analysts say. But Porsche executives say first-year production won't be that high.

All engines could be turbocharged. The Turbo and S models will go on sale first and are expected to use different versions of Porsche's twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine. A plug-in hybrid is possible down the road.

918 Spyder: The 918 Spyder, a plug-in hybrid supercar, will go into production on Sept. 18. Porsche plans 918 copies of the car over a two- to three-year life cycle. Deliveries to the United States will start in the first quarter of 2014.

The car uses a 4.6-liter V-8 engine and two electric motors to produce combined output of 887 hp. It is projected to have a top speed of at least 211 mph and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. In pure electric mode, the car can travel 18 miles, reach speeds up to 93 mph and accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7 seconds.

960: While Mueller has said it's not a priority, Porsche continues developing a two-seat mid-engine coupe to slot into the wide space between the 911 and the 918 Spyder. Dubbed "FeFi" inside the company -- for Ferrari fighter -- it could debut in 2017.

The vehicle's price could start around 200,000 euros (roughly $267,000 at current rates). According to one report, the vehicle could use a 3.9-liter boxer eight-cylinder engine with four turbochargers producing 650 hp. Engineers would employ liberal use of aluminum and composites in the architecture to limit the weight to 3,000 pounds. All-wheel drive is likely.