Yeah, that's the formula... BMW, Porsche, hell damn near everyone does it. Slowly milk the whole demand curve. Sell the shitty one first (Z3/4, Boxster, Caymen, new or old 3 Series, doesn't matter...), then make a mid power model with a 6 cylinder, then release the hot rod. At each new release, a new group of buyers will "cave" and buy that one, impatient for the real one. Then when the real one comes, people will buy that one too. Then refresh the model / body style, repeat!
The domestic version is to release a "Limited Edition" or special model. Those blue and white "Grand Sport" vettes for example, or the '03/4 Cobra... all about milking the $$$ and having a steady revenue each year...