Porsche’s Tiger Roads 2014 – Porsche Macan Turbo

Porsche Macan Turbo White

You’ve got to have faith in the handling qualities of a new SUV if you are prepared to let the media use it to chase a full-blown sports car around a racetrack. But that’s been the scene at the remarkable Porsche Leipzig vehicle production and customer care facility in the former East Germany, where there’s an equally remarkable FIA-certified circuit.

What is fascinating about the circuit is that every corner has been modeled on famous sections from race circuits around the world. There’s the Corkscrew from Laguna Seca in USA, the Mobil 1 S right-left chicane from Germany’s Nurburgring, the Curve di Lesmo from Monza in Italy, the Suntory Corner from Shizuoka in Japan – they’re all there.

And that’s where Porsche let the international motoring press loose in its brand new fifth model line, the Macan, due to be launched internationally from April and described by its maker as “the sports car of the SUV segment.” Macan, for those not already aware, means ‘tiger’ to Indonesians.

To prove it, Porsche invited journalists to chase a 911 Carrera 4 driven by one of the centre’s instructors on a series of hot laps. He didn’t hang around either as he powered around the circuit with all its famous corners. But the Macans hung in there - particularly the Turbo version with its 294kW 3.6-litre biturbo engine, mated to the same seven-speed twin-clutch PKD automatic that’s aboard the Panamera.

2014 Porsche Macan S interior steer control view

This engine has massive reserves of midrange power and was happy to rev right out along the straights. Its Porsche Traction Management, borrowed from the very Carrera the Macans followed, offered outstanding all-wheel-drive grip and stability. Overall, the exercise was impressive proof that this SUV can indeed offer almost sportscar-like performance.

There’s also an off-roading facility at Porsche Leipzig for it was once a training area for Russian and German military during the days when Leipzig was part of the GDR. The media was invited to drive the Macan over that too, which it did it with ease, proving that the new vehicle will have the ability to offer real athleticism both on and off the seal for well-heeled enthusiasts once it arrives in New Zealand in June.

Built off the platform of the Audi Q5, the new Porsche is quite obviously the Cayenne’s smaller sibling. But the body shell lines are a lot more sporting, with its long low nose finished off with a clamshell bonnet, sloping roofline, rear hips that have all sorts of 911 styling cues, and a beautifully clean rear end, all combining to give the new Porsche an athletic stance.

Sports potential is high too. It is powered by a selection of V6 turbocharged petrol and diesel engines that give it potent performance; the slowest of the fleet can accelerate to our open road speed limit in as little as 6.1 seconds, and the fastest can get there in just 4.6 clock clicks.

Macan keeps the Q5’s five-link front and trapezoidal suspension setup, but the three models that will initially be launched offer a variety of spring and damper choices. Entry S and S diesel versions both have this base suspension, but for the New Zealand market Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) will be added to the standard specification. This is an electronically controlled shock absorber adjustment system that regulates damper forces to help reduce body movement, and the damping forces can be controlled by the driver through choosing Comfort, Sport or Sport Plus modes.

Meanwhile the top model, the Macan Turbo, comes with a $3300 air suspension as standard - optional on the others - which does all sorts of good things to the vehicle, including offering a leveling system, height adjustment giving up to 230mm of ground clearance for offroad work, and PASM.

Chairman of the Porsche executive board, Matthias Muller, reckons all the forecasts point to the fact that this is the right time for Porsche to introduce its fifth model line.

“All the forecasts come to the same conclusion, that premium SUVs are enjoying strong and stable sales growth,” he told journalists.

“Last year 1.3 million of them were sold, which was 187 per cent more than the number sold in 2007. We forecast the number will clearly exceed 1.8 million units by 2024; that’s growth in urban lifestyle SUVs averaging 3.4 per cent per annum.”

2014 Porsche Macan Turbo Rear View

Already it seems the New Zealand will be part of all this.

Porsche NZ general manager Greg Clarke confirms an order bank for the Macan is quickly building, with 43 per cent of the buyers wanting the 190kW/580 Nm 3.0L turbo diesel, another 34 per cent interested in the 250kW/460 Nm 3.0L petrol-engined S and the remainder wanting the Turbo and its 294kW/550Nm 3.6-litre bi-turbo petrol V6.

I bet they can’t wait for June to arrive so they can shell out the $118,000 and $121,000 for the S diesel and petrol, or $156,000 for that very fast Turbo.