Tokyo show: Porsche details spicy Macan GTS

PORSCHE Cars Australia has added more firepower to its compact SUV line-up, slotting a new GTS variant – unveiled at the Tokyo motor show today – straight into the Macan range between the entry-level S and flagship Turbo.

The company has also added more content to its now four-model Macan range for orders placed from January 2016, adjusting prices upwards accordingly.

“If someone goes into a dealership tomorrow and places an order, they’ll get the additional spec and pay the new price,” said Porsche Cars Australia communications manager Paul Ellis.

“It’s still a popular car for us, and the lead times (on delivery) are still out to five or six months.”

Mr Ellis added that the delivery times had been recently shortened, and that the Australian subsidiary hopes to obtain more production slots from the Leipzig factory in early 2016 to speed up deliveries further.

“We’re very mindful about managing customers’ expectations, and we’re hoping, with extra capacity, we can bring those lead times down more,” he told GoAuto.

The GTS uses the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine from the S, but a retune has increased power by 15kW to 265kW. Torque output rises 40Nm to 500Nm.

The five-door GTS will reel off 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds in standard form, and will top out at 256km/h. Equipping the GTS with Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono package (at $2690) will hasten the dash to 5.0 seconds flat.

Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox is the only transmission offered in the Macan.

The Porsche Active Management System (PASM) suspension set-up from the S has also been retuned for the GTS, and the ride height has been lowered by an additional 15mm.

New GTS-branded seats, a sports exhaust, black 20-inch RS Spyder rims, black exterior trim and Alcantara interior trim set the GTS apart, while a new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with a new screen and digital radio – first seen in the 997 Series II – is featured in a Porsche SUV for the first time.

Apple CarPlay is available as an $1090 option on the Macan.

The PCM system, along with lane departure warning, digital radio and three-zone climate control, will be added to the base specification of all Macan models, which now starts at $91,900 plus on-roads for the entry-level S Diesel.

The Macan does battle with the likes of Audi’s Q5 – with which it shares a platform – as well as BMW’s X3 and the Range Rover Evoque.

It has sold 1604 units this year, making it the sportscar marque’s most popular model.

2015 Porsche Macan pricing*

S Diesel (a)	$91,900
S (a)	$93,100
GTS (a)	$109,500
Turbo (a)	$130,300

*Excludes on-road costs