Porsche has made a bold move by making its bestselling SUV all electric and that is why the German luxury carmaker is pushing its future product strategy. The Macan is a compact luxury SUV but now aims to straddle the various segments including the sports electric luxury space. The Macan in its new form needs to be a competent electric SUV but also drive like a proper Porsche. It certainly looks radical though and has a more streamlined shape with Taycan-infused detailing.
It is futuristic-looking and has a sportier edge. The overhangs are shorter and the DRLs are four-point units too with optional Matrix LEDs. Elsewhere, there are frameless doors and the wheel size has swollen to 22 inches. Some Porsche-specific styling cues are also there including an adaptive rear spoiler, active cooling flaps on the front air intakes, and flexible covers on the fully sealed underbody.
Inside, the benefits of the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) means the wheelbase is longer and there is more space too. The interior is roomier with more comfort and now, the luggage space is 540 liters while a ‘frunk’, adds in a second luggage capacity of 84 liters. The design is typical Porsche with a restrained look but thankfully not all physical controls are sacrificed at the altar of a touchscreen with air vents and the air conditioning controls being physical units. As like all the latest Porsches, the new Macan has a screen fest with three screens, with a free-standing 12.6-inch, curved-design instrument cluster and a 10.9-inch central display. The Macan, for the first time, also has a passenger touchscreen at 10.9 inches.
The new Macan has dual motors and air suspension while the Macan Turbo now delivers 639 PS and up to 1,130 Nm of torque. Now, that is a huge power increase and that means a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.3 seconds. The Porsche Macan 4 meanwhile does 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. There is a lithium-ion battery in the underbody, with a gross capacity of 100 kWh and the new 800-volt architecture also means faster charging times. The DC charging output is up to 270 kW. The battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent within approximately 21 minutes at a 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.
The Macan Turbo is pricier at $105,300 but also delivers more performance and more technology while Porsche has worked hard to maintain its brand ethos. Whether the car will deliver the same driving thrills as the gasoline Macan is a question but it does look like an attractive proposition in being an EV for driving enthusiasts.
This story originally appeared on Upscalelivingmag
