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Porsche Launches the Macan Electric SUV

Porsche has launched the all-electric version of its big-selling Macan SUV. It’s the second electric vehicle (EV) from the German manufacturer following the sporty Taycan.

To be available with dual-motor powertrains of up to 470kW/1130Nm, and a 100kWh battery pack, the Macan EV will come initially in two models – the Macan 4 and the Macan Turbo – with the Turbo variant punching out those big power numbers. The Macan 4 will pump out still very impressive figures of 300kW/650Nm.

Porsche says Macan 4 accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds under test conditions, while the Macan Turbo does the sprint in 3.3 seconds. The two models achieve top speeds of 220 and 260 km/h respectively. 

Built on Porsche’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the Macan boasts an 800-volt architecture. DC charging output is up to 270 kW, enabling the battery to be charged from 10 to 80 per cent within approximately 21 minutes at a suitable fast-charging station. At 400-volt charging stations, a high-voltage switch in the battery enables bank charging by effectively splitting the 800-volt battery into two batteries, each with a rated voltage of 400 volts. Porsche says this enables charging at up to 135kW. AC charging at up to 11kW is possible at household wall boxes. 

The Macan is 4,784 mm long, 1,938 mm wide and 1,622 mm high. The wheelbase is 86mm longer than the previous model (2,893 mm).

Range is up to 613km (WLTP) for the Macan 4 and 591km for the Turbo, and Porsche said it has helped to stretch the range by giving the Macan a drag coefficient of 0.25. 

Depending on the model and equipment fitted, the capacity behind the rear seat bench is up to 540 litres (cargo mode). In addition, there is the front trunk with a capacity of 84 litres. If the rear seat backrest is folded down completely, the rear luggage compartment capacity increases to up to 1,348 litres. Maximum towing capacity is 2,000kg. 

Inside, the Macan is equipped with up to three screens, including a free-standing 12.6-inch, curved-design instrument cluster and the 10.9-inch central display. The passenger can also view information, adjust settings on the infotainment system or stream video content while the car is being driven via their own optional 10.9-inch passenger display. 

There’s an optional head-up display with augmented reality technology where virtual elements such as navigation arrows are visually integrated into the real world. The image appears to the driver at a distance of 10m and corresponds, Porsche said, to the size of an 87-inch display.

A “Hey Porsche” voice assistant suggests routes, including charging stops, and in the new Porsche App Centre passengers can directly access apps from third-party providers and install them directly. 

Driving performance and dynamics are a Porsche specialty, and both the Macan 4 and the Macan Turbo have all-wheel drive and electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management (ePTM) – which the company said operates around five times faster than a conventional all-wheel drive system. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) – an electronically controlled differential lock on the rear axle – also contributes to the traction, driving stability and lateral dynamics of the Macan Turbo. 

Macan models with air suspension – standard on the Turbo – are equipped with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) electronic 

damping control. The Macan EV has optional rear-axle steering, with a maximum steering angle of five degrees. 

In Australia, Porsche says the new Macan models will be additionally fitted with the following features:

All models 

  • Tyre fit set 
  • Privacy glass 
  • Porsche Entry and Drive 
  • Adaptive Cruise Control 
  • Lane Change Assist 
  • Surround View with Active Parking Support 
  • Side airbags in rear compartment 
  • Digital radio 

Select models 

  • Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors (4 only, standard on Turbo) 
  • Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) (4 only, standard on Turbo) 
  • Power steering Plus (4 only, standard on Turbo) 
  • 14-way Comfort seats including memory package (4 only, No-Cost Option on Turbo) 
  • 21-inch Macan Turbo wheels painted in Black (high-gloss) (No-Cost Option on Turbo only) 
  • Panoramic roof system (Turbo only) 
  • Porsche Electric Sport Sound (Turbo only) 
  • Sport Chrono Package (Turbo only) 
  • 4-zone Advanced climate control (Turbo only)

The new all-electric Macan models will arrive in Australia in late 2024 with the Macan 4 available from $133,700 and the Macan Turbo available from $180,100. 

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (February 2024)

20 February 2024