CloseAt the Detroit Auto Show Matthias Muller said that the small Cayenne would get a name change before it went into production:
There’s also a small SUV called the “Cajun” (pronounced “kah-YOON”) in the works. Müller said he realized they’ll have to think of a new name for the production version after American colleagues started pronouncing it “kay-jun”.
Here's the link to the Forbes article containing the quote:
GM Austin:
At the Detroit Auto Show Matthias Muller said that the small Cayenne would get a name change before it went into production:
There’s also a small SUV called the “Cajun” (pronounced “kah-YOON”) in the works. Müller said he realized they’ll have to think of a new name for the production version after American colleagues started pronouncing it “kay-jun”.
Here's the link to the Forbes article containing the quote:
So they hadn't googled the word "Cajun" until they heard their American colleagues "mispronouncing" it? 
fritz
Jan 14, 2011 11:37:10 PM
OK, so rather than immediately jump to the conclusion that that is the lamest bit of corporate spin I've ever heard, let ask in what language is Cajun pronounced "kah-yoon" and what did our German brethren believe this word to mean? What did they think we would make of it?
The nerve of Americans to mistake "Cajun" (kah-yoon: a small furry swamp dweller) for "Cajun", a small furry swamp dweller.
I guess if we have to ask, we just don't get it.
"When you design a car around the customer's wishes, you get cup holders. When you design a car around innovative thinking, you get a Porsche."
Jan 14, 2011 11:46:48 PM
I dunno - "Cajun" just reminds me of a chicken topping for a Create Your Own pizza at Pizza Hut 
RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Jan 15, 2011 8:19:36 AM
Funny story (actually sad...it is true): One of my customers has a daughter named...Cayenne (no kidding). When I called the girl Cayenne, the little girl corrected me and told me this is pronounced "Cheyenne". 
Little background: many Germans actually say Cheyenne to the Cayenne, I don't have a clue why. When her mother came in, I asked her too how the name is pronounced and she told me....Cheyenne. I then asked her where she took this name from and she told me...from the Porsche Cayenne. Taking it a little bit too personal (stupid me, I shouldn't do that with a customer), I then told her that I owned a Porsche Cayenne and that this is pronounced Cayenne and not Cheyenne. You should have seen her reaction, "do you think I'm dumb, I know how to pronounce Porsche Cheyenne".
She is a cashier at a supermarket but nethertheless, it is pretty painful to have to say Cheyenne to her daughter each time I see her, even if I know that the correct pronunciation is Cayenne.
Porsche should really re-consider their name choices, I even know a Cayenne owner who pronounces the name Cheyenne.
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW
Jan 15, 2011 8:38:26 AM
haha that's a funny story. Poor girl, her parents were too lazy to come up with a real name... why would you name your daughter after an SUV
Porsche should stick to numbers, though now im thinking there may be a poor bastard named 911. That would be even worse..
indeed shifting is ancient technology - so is a fuel burning engine.. I happen to like both :)
Jan 15, 2011 9:02:38 AM
Suggestions for a "Cajun" name change:
1. Cayenne Sport
2. Cayenne Coupe (if it really is going to be a 2-door only)
3. Cayenne Z
4. Cayenne LT (for "light")
5. Cayenne R
Alternatives:
1. Cayun
2. Cayes
3. Cay
Not really an expert in name giving. 
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW
Jan 15, 2011 9:30:52 AM
I like "Cayenne Sport"!
Cayenne R should only be used if it is in fact a "R" rated car. (doubtful)
The other option is to drop the Cayenne name completely (which I will not miss) and call it something along the lines of Porsche 4x4 SWB (short wheel base) or ORS (Off Road Sport) or SURV (Sports Utility Recreational Vehicle).
Unfortunately , I think the ridiculous names are here to stay so I expect something along the lines of Cayun, Cay-dos, Cay-tres, Cojones!
Jan 15, 2011 9:33:15 AM
Maybe we'll see another play on the pepper/Louisianan theme set in motion by the Cayenne.
Porsche Cubanelle.
Porsche Habanero.
Porsche Jalapeno.
Porsche Pimiento.
Porsche Serrano.
Porsche Tabasco.
Hm... Serrano. Spanish name --> Carrera... Looks like we may have a contender.
Now if you'll excuse me, all this talk of peppers has made me peckish.
rulesdontapply
Jan 15, 2011 9:37:51 AM
rulesdontapply:
Maybe we'll see another play on the pepper/Louisianan theme set in motion by the Cayenne.
Porsche Cubanelle.
Porsche Habanero.
Porsche Jalapeno.
Porsche Pimiento.
Porsche Serrano.
Porsche Tabasco.
Hm... Serrano. Spanish name --> Carrera... Looks like we may have a contender.Now if you'll excuse me, all this talk of peppers has made me me peckish.
rulesdontapply
..or Porsche Naga Jolokia (the hottest chilli pepper in the world)
Jan 15, 2011 9:44:49 AM
Jan 15, 2011 12:06:08 PM
Carrageous:
OK, so rather than immediately jump to the conclusion that that is the lamest bit of corporate spin I've ever heard, let ask in what language is Cajun pronounced "kah-yoon" and what did our German brethren believe this word to mean? What did they think we would make of it?
The nerve of Americans to mistake "Cajun" (kah-yoon: a small furry swamp dweller) for "Cajun", a small furry swamp dweller.
I guess if we have to ask, we just don't get it.
According to one post I read somewhere, the internal "working title" for the project, "Cajun", was arrived at by abbreviating "Cayenne Junior, which is quite credible.
What is barely credible is that anyone would consider carrying over this internal name as a model name without the simplest of checks on its possible meanings, interpretations in other major languages.
fritz
Very amusing. So between the lines, then, we at Porsche have learned from an American colleague that our refined and euphonic name will be utterly distorted, mangled and many will take offense.
Carpe Diem--life is but a crack of light bounded by eternities of darkness (Nabokov)
Jan 15, 2011 3:59:18 PM
It's interesting how different people pronounce the name Cayenne. I invariably hear "Kay-yen" here in the UK. When in Germany, I have heard "Kay-yen" and also "Ki-yen". I wonder which one Germans consider correct?
RT Moderator - 997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection
Jan 15, 2011 4:24:31 PM
i have agood german friend with the same 'cheyenne' problem.
corrected him so many times but still...
i guess he thinks that i am wrong with my 'cayenne' 
Jan 15, 2011 4:58:21 PM
I've been going with "Ki-yen" or "Kay-yen" ever since I was little and would refer to the pepper, the capital of French Guyana and the Porsche that way. I've been hearing the following renditions over the years:
"Ki-yen."
"Kay-yen."
"Kah-yen."
"Kah-yeen."
"Kay-anne."
"Kah-yanne."
Looks like the word will be twisted no matter what. I still can't get over the reasoning behind Porsche's sudden name change for the Cajun. I opposed it from the start, but they're changing it just because their American colleagues 'mispronounced' it?
Really?
rulesdontapply
Jan 15, 2011 6:14:18 PM
Conny997:
I would suggest CAYUGA for the new Cajun. It's a county in the state NY and subpart of the Iroquoise as well.
Nah, you'd probably then get some German parents naming their daughter Cayuga ................ and pronouncing it Tschey-udja. 
fritz
Conny997:
I would suggest CAYUGA for the new Cajun. It's a county in the state NY and subpart of the Iroquoise as well.
It's also the site of a local track just west of here : http://www.torontomotorsportspark.com/
RC:
Funny story (actually sad...it is true): One of my customers has a daughter named...Cayenne (no kidding). When I called the girl Cayenne, the little girl corrected me and told me this is pronounced "Cheyenne".
She is a cashier at a supermarket but nethertheless, it is pretty painful to have to say Cheyenne to her daughter each time I see her, even if I know that the correct pronunciation is Cayenne.
Porsche should really re-consider their name choices, I even know a Cayenne owner who pronounces the name Cheyenne.
Way to go RC, I am sure your customer appreciate your high level of discretion and care 
hugo:
Way to go RC, I am sure your customer appreciate your high level of discretion and care
She and her family are still coming to me, I guess I stopped my bickering in time. 
Thanks god I'm in a job where professional trust is extremely important, so I can actually be more blunt from time to time without loosing a customer/patient. 
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW
Jan 17, 2011 9:20:25 AM
rulesdontapply:
I've been going with "Ki-yen" or "Kay-yen" ever since I was little and would refer to the pepper, the capital of French Guyana and the Porsche that way. I've been hearing the following renditions over the years:
"Ki-yen."
"Kay-yen."
"Kah-yen."
"Kah-yeen."
"Kay-anne."
"Kah-yanne."
Looks like the word will be twisted no matter what. I still can't get over the reasoning behind Porsche's sudden name change for the Cajun. I opposed it from the start, but they're changing it just because their American colleagues 'mispronounced' it?
Really?
rulesdontapply
The right pronunciation is Kah-yenn
Right pronunciation for Porsche is Porsheh.
Maybe this (taken from the internet) helps, even if I'm not really sure it should be explained with -uh:
What is the correct pronunciation of Porsche? While the “proper” way to pronounce some German terms in English may be debatable, this isn't one of them. Porsche is a family name, and the family members pronounce their surname PORSH-uh, not PORSH! Same for the car. You don't say NYKE for Nike, so don't be lazy and leave off the e in Porsche! Porsche's U.S. TV commercials pronounce the name correctly and so should you.
--
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW
Jan 17, 2011 9:22:41 AM
Jan 17, 2011 9:23:24 AM
What's with the the German using impossible to pronoun names? I thought Germans are technical, straight forward?
How about redoing the whole Porsche line?
911 ---> 911
Panamera --> 911 Long
Cayenne --> 911 Xtra Large
Cajun --> 911 Large
Cayman --> 911 Short
Boxster --> 911 Small
Future 928? Easy, 911 Medium.
Jan 17, 2011 9:18:23 PM
People will misrpronounce just about any car name.
In the U.S., Peugeot (Puh szhow) is almost always pronounced Pew sho.
Ford is--in the South--pronounced Fohd. Chevrolet is Shivoleh. Honda is honder, Toyota is Toyoter. BMW is BMdubya. SUV is esshewvee. 
RC:
hugo:
Way to go RC, I am sure your customer appreciate your high level of discretion and care
She and her family are still coming to me, I guess I stopped my bickering in time.
Thanks god I'm in a job where professional trust is extremely important, so I can actually be more blunt from time to time without loosing a customer/patient.
Good job RC.
Please say Hi to her son Cayman for me.
Tim
2010 997.2 GT3RS; 2008 Cayenne Turbo; 2006 911 Club Coupe #13; 2011 Panamera 4
Targa Tim:
RC:
hugo:
Way to go RC, I am sure your customer appreciate your high level of discretion and care
She and her family are still coming to me, I guess I stopped my bickering in time.
Thanks god I'm in a job where professional trust is extremely important, so I can actually be more blunt from time to time without loosing a customer/patient.
Good job RC.Please say Hi to her son Cayman for me.
She has no son and I am going to be the last person on earth to give here the wrong idea (about the name choice of a possible future son).
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M, BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW
About Rennteam | Help | Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Support | Contact | Imprint | Archive
Powered by
Community
and
