Porsche has dropped plans to build a two-seater vehicle which would have been smaller and cheaper than its Boxster model.

The Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper reported that Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller said such a plan would risk diluting the brand and alienate traditional customers.

Mueller also said in the interview that Porsche has no immediate plans to develop a smaller version of its four door Panamera although he indicated that such a model could become an option in five or six years.

Porsche is aiming to increase annual sales to about 200,000 cars and SUVs by taking advantage of resources at Volkswagen which now owns 49.9% of the sportscar business and is currently examining ways to purchase the remainder.