At this week’s 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show one of the models making a big splash is Porsche’s all-new 2015 Macan crossover.  Marketed as Porsche’s new entry-level compact crossover with all the comforts of its Cayenne but with a lower starting price. Designed for the soccer mom’s tasks during the week while also providing owners with a solid weekend track day partner.  It all sounds pretty good eh?  We sure think so, and it does not hurt their pitch person is the “out of this world” Russian tennis superstar Maria Sharapova.

Porsche Macan – Photo C/O Forbes.com

Set to go on sale in the first half of next year, the Macan will be available in both an S and Turbo trim levels.  Prices will start at $49,900 but as is often the case with luxury rides the price ranges dramatically as you choose various options making the total price sky rocket. For example, decide on a Macan Turbo and you’re looking at a base price of in the $72,000 range.  Nevertheless, Porsche has kindly provided all its pricing information through its very cool new online configurator.

As for the name, according to the UK’s Car Magazine Porsche continues to leverage its wild naming convention as the name Macan “is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger and combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics” – core characteristics of the new off-road car.  Well, not sure I love the name but I do eagerly await getting behind the wheel of the Macan for a test drive at some point in the near future.