Porsche confirms electric Macan for 2023 launch

PORSCHE has confirmed the existence and ongoing development of an all-electric Macan with the green medium SUV set to be the first model from the brand to ride on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture developed in tandem with Audi.

Due to launch globally in 2023, much of the electric Macan’s development thus far has been done virtually with the test mules only just emerging for real world and track testing now, a move Porsche says not only saves costs, but resources as well.

As many as 20 digital prototypes have been rendered so far with everything from aerodynamics, energy management, operation and acoustics being tested, dialled in and refined.

These digital prototypes form the basis of and pave the way for the real-life test mules which are expected to cover more than three million kilometres of all-weather testing before the model’s launch.

“Testing in a real-life environment is now getting underway – one of the most important milestones in the development process,” Porsche AG member of the executive board for research and development Michael Steiner said.

“Endurance testing on closed-off testing facilities and public roads in real-life conditions is still indispensable to ensure that the vehicle structure, operational stability and reliability of hardware, software and all functions meet our high-quality standards.

“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.”

No mechanical details have been released yet, however we expect the electric Macan to at least match the specs of the similarly sized Audi E-Tron, especially the higher-end variants – up to 300kW/664Nm courtesy of dual motors and a 95kWh battery.

Mr Steiner also revealed a second-generation traditionally powered Macan would be launched later this year; hardly surprising given the current version has been around since 2014.

“In Europe, demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, but the pace of change varies considerably across the world,” he said.

“That’s why we’re going to launch another conventionally powered successor to the current Macan in the course of 2021.”

The Australian arm of Porsche has sold 897 Macans so far this year ending April, accounting for 8.9 per cent of $60,000-plus medium SUV segment, a class currently being ruled by the Mercedes-Benz GLB (1437/14.2%) and BMW X3 (1429/14.1%).