Porsche AG revealed a racing coupe version of its upcoming 918 Spyder high-performance car and said sales rose by around 25% on the year to 95,000 cars in 2010 as the German sports-car maker returned to the North American International Auto Show after a three-year absence to spur growth in its largest sales region.

Speaking during a press conference, Porsche brand chief Matthias Mueller voiced optimism for this year as order intake surged by around 50% to 110,000 cars.

The Stuttgart-based firm last year approved a plan to add the high-performance 918 Spyder model to its line-up as part of its expansion plan.

The 918 will claim the top spot of Porsche's product line-up, which comprises the Boxster roadster, the Cayman, the Cayenne sport-utility-vehicle as well as the 911 model. Porsche ceased production of the GT high-performance sports car in 2006 after selling around 1,200 vehicles.

Porsche's U.S. sales picked up in recent months, driven by the new four-door Panamera coupe and the revamped Cayenne sports-utility-vehicle, which more than offset declining sales of the core 911. Mueller said Porsche will add a hybrid and a diesel version of the Panamera this year.

Porsche sold a total of 25,320 cars in the U.S. in 2010, up 29% from 19,696 vehicles in 2009.

In November, Porsche confirmed it will add a small SUV named Cajun to its line-up to attract younger customers and benefit from rising demand in this market segment. The Cajun is a cornerstone for Porsche's plan to ramp up sales volume and benefit from economies of scale by cooperating closely with Volkswagen AG (VLKAY, VOW.XE).

Porsche Automobil Holding SE's (POAHY, PAH3.XE) core sports-car operation is due to be integrated into Volkswagen as the company's 10th brand as part of a complex merger.

Europe's largest automaker by sales volume acquired a 49.9% stake in Porsche's highly profitable operating business in 2009 and has a call option to buy the remaining stake at a later stage.

Martin Winterkorn, the chief executive of both Volkswagen and Porsche's holding firm, wants to boost Porsche's annual sales to 150,000 vehicles in the midterm from currently around 82,000 cars by expanding the brand's product line and benefit from significant cost efficiencies through the tie-up with Volkswagen.

Critics fear, however, that Porsche might dent its coveted brand image if it doubles output. Porsche is currently reaping the highest profit margins among global automakers, thanks to an efficient production system and charging premium prices.

-By Christoph Rauwald, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 69 29 725 512; christoph.rauwald@dowjones.com
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