SINGAPORE: The latest generation Porsche Macan has arrived and is hitting the road with electric power, making it the first sports utility vehicle (SUV) from the German carmaker to go fully electric.
It made its world premiere in Gardens by the Bay, Singapore but unlike the all-electric Taycan in 2019, there was no simultaneous launch with Europe and North America.
This probably has to do with the fact that the electric vehicle (EV) adoption rate is higher in this region where incentives are put in place by the respective government, perhaps encouraged by China, the biggest EV market in the world.
Two variants are available – Macan 4 and Macan Turbo – with different power outputs, performance and range for long distance and urban driving.
Porsche chairman Oliver Blume unveiling the Macan line-up in Singapore.
The Macan 4 with Launch Control delivers up to 300kW (408PS) of overboost power and 650Nm of torque, good for 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 220kph.
Being the more powerful variant, the Macan Turbo with up to 470kW (639PS) and 1,130Nm of torque, accelerates to 100kph in 3.3 seconds and gets a top speed of 260kph.
A lithium-ion battery in the underbody feeds the electric motors; it has a gross capacity of 100kWh, of which up to 95kWh could be actively used.
Porsche says the battery is a central component of the newly developed Premium Platform Electric (PPE) with an 800-volt architecture that is used for the first time in the latest Macan.
Macan 4 (left) and Macan Turbo.
This battery could be charged from 10% to 80% within about 21 minutes at a suitable fast charging station.
It could also be charged at a slower AC (alternating current) rate at up to 11kW with household wall boxes.
Porsche says that up to 240kW of energy could be recuperated by the electric motors while driving.
This regenerated energy while braking and slowing down explains why an EV gets better mileage in urban driving than on long-distance runs.
The Macan 4 is said to provide a combined WLTP electric range of 516km to 613km on long-distance runs while its city range is 665km to 784km.
As expected, the Macan Turbo is “energy hungrier” with a combined range of 518km to 591km for long runs and 670km to 765km in urban driving.
In body styling, the Porsche sporty identity is fully intact with the characteristic Porsche flyline flowing in an integral manner with the flat rear window and frameless doors with typical side blades to enhance a sleek and sporty design.
Up front, the headlamps are divided into two parts; the flat upper light units with four-point daytime running lights are placed in the extreme wings to emphasise the Macan’s width.
The main headlamps with optional matrix LED technology are positioned slightly lower.
The Macan’s longer wheelbase – an increase of 86mm over the previous model’s 2,893mm – is not so obvious with shorter overhangs in the front and rear.
Porsche says the new Macan is one of the most streamlined SUVs in the market with an aerodynamic co-efficient (Cd) of 0.25.
This is achieved via the Porsche Active Aerodynamics which includes active and passive elements to provide positive effects on range and power usage.
Going electric also means more storage space; the luggage area offers up to 540 litres, depending on the variant and equipment.
Coupled with the “frunk” space in front under the bonnet offering an additional 84 litres, the new Macan is said to offer 136 litres more storage space than the previous model.
And if the rear seatrests are folded down completely, the rear luggage space is more than doubled to 1,348 litres.
Depending on the variant, the driver and front passenger sit up to 28mm lower than before while the rear passengers sit up to 15mm lower with increased leg room.
The dashboard gets even more dazzling with the latest generation display and operating concept with up to three screens.
This includes the free-standing 12.6-inch curved instrument cluster and two 10.9-inch screens; one is a central display and the other is for the front passenger, a first-time feature.
In addition to this, the driver also enjoys a head-up display (HUD) with augmented reality technology.
Both Macan variants are all-wheel drives with the two electric motors being controlled via power electronics in “almost real-time”.
The electronically-controlled Porsche Traction Management (ePTM) is said to operate five times faster than a conventional all-wheel drive system and could respond to slip within 10 milliseconds.
The Macan Turbo comes standard with air suspension and for the first time, the new line-up can be specified with the optional rear-axle steering.
In tyre sizes, the new Macan is specified with up to 22-inch wheels with staggered tyre fitment.
Porsche has delivered more than 800,000 Macans worldwide since 2014 and believes the triumphant story will continue with the all-electric successor.
However, if there are Macan customers who wish to buy a non-electric variant, Porsche says that could be entertained too but the current emphasis is clearly on electric power.
