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Porsche expects to hit 200k sales target 3 years early

When Porsche launched the Cayenne, enthusiasts and purists – in between fits of rage – rationalized the SUVs existence by imagining that the money it brought in would guarantee the company's continued ability to produce the many beloved versions of its 911. The same was said when the Panamera arrived, and again when the Macan was unveiled. What probably wasn't imagined when these three more mainstream vehicles joined the Porsche catalog, was how dramatic an impact they'd have on the company's sales figures. The company expects 2015 to be a banner year, as it aims to hit a 200,000-unit sales goal three years ahead of schedule. Porsche sold nearly 190,000 units in 2014, a gain of 17 percent over 2013, while its year-over-year sales for December were up 39 percent. Considering Porsche made these gains before the full impact of the new Macan could be felt, it's no wonder the company is so keen on 2015. Porsche has already moved 45,000 Macans, which would be impressive on its own, were it not for the way the CUV is elevating the brand. According to a report from Reuters, two-thirds of the company's Macan deliveries have been to first-time Porsche customers. Considering these two facts, it will be extremely interesting to see the impact Porsche's newest model has on its sales over a full calendar year.

VW makes $23K on every Porsche sold, more than Bentley or Lamborghini

It's a good time to be in the luxury car business. In Volkswagen Group's financial report for the 2013 fiscal year, it is revealed that that Porsche enjoyed an operating margin of 18 percent. That means the Stuttgart brand made on average about $23,200 per car sold, according to BusinessWeek. Bentley wasn't far behind, and Audi (which was combined with Lamborghini) posted a 10.1 percent margin. This compares to only around 2.9 percent for the Volkswagen brand.
"Luxury brands are on fire," said Dave Sullivan, an industry analyst at AutoPacific. He said that the average profit margin is between six and eight percent. Brands like Porsche and Bentley have the benefit of competing in rarefied markets. Buyers looking at one their vehicles have fewer models to shop against and don't care as much about price. They can also charge more for options, which further boosts income, according to BusinessWeek.
In a way, we should be more impressed by the continued success from Audi. Its models generally have direct competitors in every segment from the other premium automakers. Plus, their buyers aren't the captains of industry who are shopping for a Bentley. Still, the Four Rings is leading rivals in sales so far this year.

Leno steals Porsche 918 from The Quail for latest Garage episode

Just because he's a famous celebrity doesn't mean Jay Leno got to take it easy at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance earlier this month. Having already spent some time with the gorgeous Cadillac Elmiraj Concept and Ed Welburn for a recent episode of Jay Leno's Garage, the late night talk show host also got to put a few miles on a prototype version of the Porsche 918 Spyder.
Like a usual episode of JLG, Leno first goes over the details of the car with Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder's development, before taking it out for spin. Check out the full episode, which is posted below, to hear what Walliser has to say about the car. More importantly, though, crank up your computer's volume and let the car's high-revving engine and amazing exhaust note do plenty of talking for itself.