Porsche has revealed full details of its upcoming Porsche Macan EV, the first to ride on the brand's latest Premium Electric (PPE) platform and a vehicle that the German high-performance carmaker says will be “the sportiest model ever.” its segment”, but which also offers “high levels of everyday practicality”.
Although the Taycan was Porsche's first (and very successful) foray into electrification, the Macan EV is arguably the most important car. It's priced from £69,800 / €84,100 (around $88,900 / AU$135,000) for the Macan 4, with the more powerful Turbo models costing £95,000 / €114,600 (around $121,000 / AU$184,000). And the electrified SUV joins the ranks of the world's best-selling Porsche body style with the Macan and Cayenne.
Since 2014, Porsche has delivered more than 800,000 examples of its small SUV worldwide, and the success of its latest model is absolutely essential if Porsche is to achieve its goal of successfully electrifying and selling 80 percent of its model range. by 2030.
To do this, it has created an electric vehicle that apparently excels in all scenarios: the Macan 4 models are capable of accelerating from rest to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds (the Turbo reduces this to 3.3 seconds), while offering top speeds of 220 km/h and 161 mph respectively.
The 800 V architecture is combined with a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery located under the body. Up to 95 kWh can be actively used, which is equivalent to a combined WLTP range of up to 600 kilometers in the Macan 4 and 600 kilometers in the Turbo.
Both models feature two permanently excited PSM electric motors mounted on each axle, which not only gives the Macan EV exceptional straight-line performance, but also allows it to venture off-road, thanks to numerous customized driving modes.
During our ride in one of the early prototypes, we experienced the blistering acceleration the Turbo provided on the track (thanks to launch control), as well as the Macan EV's ability to wade, climb, and control clean slides over muddy terrain.
The 800V architecture, which was the highlight of the Taycan, also allows for faster charging speeds; Porsche claims its latest Macan can accept DC charging inputs of up to 270 kW. Thanks to this, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 21 minutes at a suitable fast charging station.
If lower 400-volt charging stations are the only option, a high-voltage switch on the battery allows bench charging by effectively splitting the 800-volt battery into two, each with a nominal voltage of 400 volts for higher charging. more efficient and time efficient. -UPS.
Next generation infotainment
Although the infotainment setup looks alarmingly similar to that found in the current Taycan (as well as the upcoming Panamera), Porsche is introducing an all-new operating system powered by Android Automotive that makes the human-machine interface feel much more intuitive. . faster and more capable.
The Macan EV can be specified with up to three screens: a freestanding 12.6-inch curved instrument cluster, a 10.9-inch center screen and an optional third screen for the passenger, which also measures 10.9 inches.
As we mentioned in our first hands-on experience with a prototype infotainment system at the brand's Leipzig facility, Porsche has ensured that it is incredibly fast and capable of handling complex routing requests, including customized charging requirements, in milliseconds.
The Android Automotive operating system also means that users have access to much of the Google Play store, with the ability to download favorite apps, games and streaming services. The optional screen for the third passenger features a special coating so the driver isn't distracted by whatever the front passenger is binge-eating.
Finally, Porsche has introduced the latest augmented reality Head Up Display in the Macan EV, which transmits virtual instructions to the road for easier navigation and safety warnings.
Turn arrows now flash, while virtual lane markings help the driver stay in the correct lane. According to Porsche, the image appears to the driver at a distance of 10 meters and corresponds to the size of an 87-inch screen. We tested it in a Panamera prototype and found it really useful, if surprisingly unobtrusive.
Porsche Performance
While the Macan EV is a technological feat, it has also been designed with Porsche's formidable performance woven into its DNA. It slides, swerves, and attacks a race course like a vehicle possessed, but it can also venture into light off-road territory. Porsche rarely does things by halves.
“Thanks to the particularly sporty seating position and low center of gravity, as well as its impressive driving dynamics and steering precision, the new Macan conveys a real sports car feel,” explains product line vice president, Jörg Kerner.
Porsche Traction Management can detect and react to wheel slip within 10 milliseconds, while Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus intelligently juggles power between the axles, sending power where it's needed.
Turbo models come standard with the Porsche Active Suspension Management system, which allows greater control over comfort in normal driving conditions, but transforms the Macan EV into a crouching monster that devours circuits when required.
Also for the first time on the Macan, these electrified models can be specified with rear-axle steering, offering a more compact turning circle in busy urban environments, but also aiding stability when traveling at high speeds.
It's a solid offering, a do-it-all SUV that fuses everyday practicality with Porsche performance – a seductive combination that has proven extremely successful for the Macan in the past.
We're expected to see many more electrified Porsches in the coming years, with the Boxster, Cayenne and Panamera all getting the battery treatment by 2026. There's also a new seven-seat SUV in the works.
But their success will depend on the performance of this Macan EV and, for that reason, its importance to the brand cannot be underestimated.
