Mercedes Benz

Porsche is making its cars more accessible to "the masses." Owning a shiny new Porsche is a dream of many automotive enthusiasts, but the $47,800 starting price of the base four-cylinder Macan makes it difficult to realize. Porsche knows its cars are aspirational, so it likely won't create an entry-level model to attract new buyers. Still, the German automaker wants more people to experience its cars, which is presumably why it has launched a pair of pilot programs on the East and West coasts of the US that will give users short-term, on-demand, access to Porsche vehicles. "We want to offer a choice in how people experience the thrill of driving a Porsche," said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "Our market research shows that consumers want options across a spectrum from access to ownership. The Porsche Drive and Porsche Host pilots are exciting, non-traditional ways to let customers choose how they get behi...