The current Macan is a global bestseller. Ten years in the program and after more than 800,000 vehicles sold, it is the linchpin of the Zuffenhausen-based model portfolio. He’s getting on in years and you can’t tell – not even at second glance. Sure, there are a few details missing in the interior that have long been familiar from the strong competition, but the old electronic architecture did not allow for a head-up display or animated instruments and the cyber regulations, which became stricter in the summer, meant the end of the current Macan – anyway of the great success extended – now come faster.
It’s over in spring and so everyone is looking forward to the new Macan. The Porsche Macan had to endure a lot. Years ago, his volume diesel engine was switched off overnight and now there is a complete switch to an electric drive. Not all dealers are happy about this and certainly not all customers who have not only taken the high-performance versions to their hearts. But after the electric debut of the Taycan, which will at least be technically extensively revised this spring, the Macan is supposed to pave the Swabians’ way into the electric age. There’s a lot of pressure that the E-Macan has to sit well and can’t make any mistakes in terms of design or technology. The effects would be difficult to calculate.
The new Porsche Macan was developed together with the closely aligned Audi Q6 Etron, where the delays were even more painfully noticeable. The Macan, which will probably be available from late summer, is visually closely related to its predecessor, looks pleasant as usual and therefore fits well into the current portfolio, where combustion engine and electric models will have to get along side by side for some time. The Macan makes its world premiere in the two versions of the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo.
Further model variants such as the GTS or an entry-level version with rear-wheel drive will follow, because hardly any car manufacturer knows how to keep its portfolio up-to-date and desirable with so many windows. “We are taking the Macan to a completely new level – with exceptional electric performance and expressive design,” says Porsche CEO Oliver Blume at the world premiere in Singapore.
Compared to its predecessor, the Macan Elektro has grown slightly with a length of 4.78 meters. At 1.94 meters, the width is quite generous in this class, although the entry-level model in the Porsche range has wheels up to 22 inches in size. This not only looks good, but also guarantees driving behavior, the bar of which is higher than ever thanks to the model that is now being phased out. Good for the space: the wheelbase has been extended by almost nine centimeters to 2.89 meters, which is even more pleasant, especially in the rear, than the lower seating position. Compared to its ancestor, the loading volume has increased by 136 liters. A maximum of 540 liters are available behind the back seat. If you fold it down, you can use up to 1,348 liters.
Under the front hood – which can be opened by touch as if by magic – there is a small compartment with an additional 84 liters for more than charging accessories. The driver looks at a 12.6-inch instrument unit while the comfort functions are operated on the 10.9-inch central display. A similarly sized passenger display is available upon request. Long overdue and now available for the first time in the Macan: a head-up display with augmented reality technology.
The front is particularly striking with its two-part LED main headlights. The basic model of the Porsche Macan 4 starts at prices starting at 84,100 euros. There is 300 kW / 408 HP and a maximum torque of 650 Nm. From a standstill it goes to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and the speed is limited to 220 km/h. Its consumption: 17.9 kWh / 100 km. The top model of the Macan Turbo, which costs at least 114,600 euros, gets more steam with 470 kW / 639 hp and a gigantic 1,130 Nm. It sprints to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and travels 260 km/h.
With the 100 kWh battery pack, the Macan 4 has a range of up to 613 kilometers before it goes to the next rapid charging station, where it can be recharged with a maximum of 270 kW. This goes from 10 to 80 percent charge level in around 20 minutes. If you want to tow a trailer, you can do so with a trailer load of up to 2,000 kilograms. Particularly important for maximum range are not only the efficient electric motors on the front and rear axles, but also the aerodynamics, which have a drag coefficient of 0.25, which is unusually low for an SUV.
All Macan versions have all-wheel drive at market launch. On request, there are not only various driving programs, but also variable air suspension and rear-axle steering, which reduces the turning circle in the city to 11.1 meters. The electronic dampers are equipped with new two-valve technology, which is intended to ensure a wider spread between comfort and sportiness. Now the customer just has to enjoy the electric drive, because the sonorous six-cylinder sound of the three-liter engine is a thing of the past. Many fans will regret that.
