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Car companies may need to start curbing model proliferation

Looking at the current automotive landscape, especially from German makers, you quickly get the impression that less definitely isn't more. BMW alone offers its 3 Series platform in practically every segment possible, including the regular sedan and 4 Series Gran Coupe, which would seem to be direct competitors. Porsche might be the winner, though, with 20 different variants of the 911 listed for sale on its US website. However, some of this model madness might be reaching an end as companies begin cutting back spending or shifting money to other priorities.
According to Yahoo Finance, the offerings from the German automakers are up 25 percent over the past three years to over 200 models in Europe. The peak is expected to come around 2018 at 230 separate vehicles, according to consulting company PwC.
Amazingly, BMW, which is among the poster children for this model explosion, might be changing its tune. "I'm sure there will be points in the future where we look at certain cars and say, 'Maybe we need to think differently now,'" said head of sales Ian Robertson in an interview, according to Yahoo Finance. The statement certainly sounds shocking coming from a company rumored to have 23 front-wheel-drive vehicles all using a single platform on the way.

Porsche Macan teaser reveals unique quad-LEDs

In truth, all-but-undisguised prototypes for the upcoming Porsche Macan compact crossover have been spotted galavanting all around the globe for some time now, but even the least-camouflaged examples have been caught wearing eyepatches covering their headlights and taillights. A dark new teaser image from Porsche clues us in to why that is - the baby Cayenne is getting unique quad-LED peepers up front.
Porsche has been hinting at lighting innovations in its production cars through recent concept reveals, including the stunning Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo showcar from last year's Paris Motor Show. The wagonized Panamera also featured four-point LED arrays up front, as well is in the rear, so it seems likely that this lighting will become a Porsche design signature going forward.
Powerpoint slides leaked from a recent dealer meeting suggest the Macan S will arrive packing a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, while the Macan Turbo will boast a 3.6-liter force-fed unit, with both models receiving seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearboxes. Pricing is expected to range from $52,000 for the S model to $75,000 for the Turbo.

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.