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Porsche’s mid-size Macan SUV is the company’s best-selling
vehicle, with 90,000 finding homes in 2018. So the news that the next
generation, due to be launched for the 2024 model year, will be electric-only serves to illustrate
how serious Porsche is about zero-emissions technology. The next-gen Macan is undergoing intensive testing, preparing for its global debut. This ground breaking SUV, the first on Porsche's new Premium Platform Electric (PPE), represents a complete redesign and a leap forward in our electric journey.
Porsche has revealed teaser images of the new electric Macan prototype, which bears an evolutionary resemblance to its highly successful combustion-engined sibling, mimicking the overall shape. At a first glance it looks like the Macan EV will feature Taycan-inspired headlights, a less prominent grille, but a more aggressive ‘face’.
It’s also worth noting that designing an electric version of their best-selling model isn’t simply a question of swapping a petrol engine for an electric motor. The new EV Macan will be based on the Premium Platform Electric architecture which Porsche is developing in tandem with Audi to also underpin the A6 e-tron.
Electric motors take up less space than internal combustion engines, and the heaviest component of an EV, the battery, is usually located low down, so the omens are good for a spacious SUV with a low centre of gravity and sensational performance.
The EV Macan will be the next all-electric Porsche after the Taycan, the Taycan Sport Turismo, and the Taycan Cross Turismo, so we can expect a similar package based around an 800 Volt system powering two electric motors for all-wheel drive traction and performance.
In the Taycan, the combined output of the two motors is equivalent to around 600PS, giving 0-62mph in around 3.5 seconds. The Macan, being an SUV, may well be a little larger and heavier than the Taycan but we could confidently assume it will still easily hit the benchmark in less than four seconds.
Range is an unknown too, but Porsche has revealed it will have more on tap than the Taycan, which can cover 318 miles on a full charge. But of equal importance is the speed of recharging. The Taycan’s 800-volt electrical architecture allows for rapid charging at up to 270 kilowatts, powering the battery from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes, so we could expect something similar for the electrified Macan.
Macan EV trims are likely to mirror those of the combustion-engined Macan, with a more powerful S model, T model, and a range-topping GTS providing the highest level of performance and dynamics.
But regardless of trim level, we can expect superior performance features to come with the electric SUV. Dr. Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development, at Porsche AG, has said: “Like the Taycan, the all-electric Macan, with its 800-volt architecture, will offer typical Porsche E-Performance. The all-electric Macan will be the sportiest model in its segment.”
Whilst the Taycan has given us an insight into the sensational performance and appeal of Porsche zero-emission motoring, the next generation Macan represents a logical next step. Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and we can’t wait to see how the marque brings Porsche’s typical dynamics and driver engagement to the electrified SUV. Meanwhile, there’s lots to enjoy in the current Macan range, with four trims to choose from.