Literally thousands of perspective owners previously unable to afford to realize that dream on the arrival of the all-new Macan revealed last week at the Los Angeles motor show. Key to Porsche’s 200 000 cars a tear plan; its fifth model line arrives in SA early next year.
They say the 295kW 550Nm 3.6-liter biturbo V6 powered Macan Turbo flagship is good for accelerating to 100kmh in 4.6 seconds, 266km/h and can get by on 8.9l/100km at 208g/km CO2. Next up is the 250kW 460Nm normally aspirated V6 Macan S capable of a 5.2 second 0-100 dash, 254km/h and sipping 8.7l/100km for 204 g/km CO2, while the 190kW 580Nm turbodiesel 3-liter V6 Macan Diesel S does a 6.1 second 0-100 sprint, 230 km/h and 6.1l/100km for 159g/km CO2.
The petrol Macans have an exhaust flap for what Porsche explains as ‘robust acoustic qualities’. All three models turn a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive, while suspension is courtesy of double wishbones up front and multi-link at the rear with variable damping control and an electro-mechanical steering and optional air suspension.
Macan also has an off-road mode
4.7m long, 1.9m wide and 1.6m tall, Macan is 15cm shorter, 1.6cm narrower and 8cm lower (never mind 100kg lighter) than its big brother Cayenne and 7cm longer, 2.5cm wider and 30cm lower than the Audi Q5 it shares its platform with in a similar high-strength steel structure and various shared driveline, chassis and electrical components. Macan will however be built in Porsche’s Leipzig factory, away from the Q5.
2014 Porsche Macan SUV from the side
Running a completely different suspension set-up to Q5, Porsche reckons Macan is ‘the most agile handling in its class’, no doubt helped by the loss of the Q5′s hefty torque-sensing Torsen four-wheel drive in favour of a Porsche engineered electronically controlled set-up for a rear-biased drive, although up to 100% torque can go to the front wheels if conditions so demand. Macan also has an off-road mode.
2014 Porsche Macan SUV at the back
Clearly related to the Cayenne, the aggressive looking Macan will take on the likes of Q5, BMW X3 and the Range Rover Evoque and while nobody is saying too much about it, the Macan Turbo is said to have lapped the Nürburgring in the low eight-minute bracket, which is as quick as a BMW M3…
Specifications
Porsche Macan Turbo Price: $98,000 Engine: 3.6-litre V6 bi-turbo Transmission: Seven-speed PDK twin-clutch auto, four-wheel drive Power/Torque: 394bhp/550Nm 0-62mph: 4.6 seconds Top speed: 165mph Economy: 31.7mpg CO2: 208g/km Porsche Macan S Diesel Price: $71,615 Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel Transmission: Seven-speed PDK twin-clutch auto, four-wheel drive Power/Torque: 254bhp/580Nm 0-62mph: 6.1 seconds Top speed: 143mph Economy: 46.3mpg CO2: 159g/km Porsche Macan S Price: $71,615 Engine: 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo Transmission: Seven-speed PDK twin-clutch auto, four-wheel drive Power/torque: 335bhp/460Nm 0-62mph: 5.2 seconds Top speed: 158mph Economy: 32.5mpg CO2: 204g/km |
