[DFWX]

Not to go on too much of this, remember the era of the 928. It was the muscle car era. 500 horsepower motors in taxi cab chassis. Even the Europeans were increasingly going big cubic inches. Yet it was Porsche, after the 1972 DOT and EPA crash that produced the true "muscle car" in the 928. A rumbling V-8, but also extremely good in corners and luxurious too.
Watch TV ads and see where America is heading on performance cars. It is a return to the muscle car. The new Mustang a huge hit. Chrysler and even Cadillac - V-8 muscle.
The "sports car" market ebbs and flows in the USA.
More people own 911 and Boxsters, no issue of that.
Lastly, the PCA is the ONLY organization that has never responded to a tech question - just a comment of that...
The Dallas Area has LOTS of Boxsters and a fair number of 911s. Yet it is a volitile image trend of professionals who want a conservative appearance with an upward mobility appearing name. I suspect most Boxsters buyers lease or finance.
The danger is if that niche group who have little interest in actual performance, but rather a conservative appearance upper end semi-exoic car they can afford by monthly payments (meaning not a Lambo, Ferrari or top BMW) decide the Boxster is out of fashion. Sales could plummet quickly. What is the Porsche back up plan?
The USA auto industry is increasing offering and selling front V-8 rear wheel muscle cars. Two doors. Four doors. Even sedans. And most are selling fast at inflated prices.
Does Porsche have a response? Or is it agreeable to only being an alternative to mid and rear engined Japanese imports? I see Porsche as getting on dangerous ground. Bad timing on the SUV - just bad luck. But a sound idea.
Exactly how difficult would it be, having the tooling for both the Cayenne and the 928, would it be for Porsche to put that 450 horsepower V-8 of the Cayenne into a front engine 2+2 at 3,300 pounds, rather than a 2 1/2 ton SUV? It would require little design, tool and die work to produce.