Porsche updates Macan with tweaked looks, more power

PORSCHE has unveiled version 1.3 of its Macan medium SUV, this week debuting the model’s second facelift in an updated range now trimmed down to three variants that all feature refreshed styling, interior tweaks and a good dollop of extra grunt.

Conspicuously absent from the line-up is a flagship Turbo – although the GTS now has equivalent firepower to the pre-facelift Macan’s performance halo – potentially leaving headroom for the all-electric model that will be initially sold alongside the petrol versions.

Due to land in Australia in the final three months of 2021, the new Macan range opens from $84,800 plus on-road costs for the eponymous base model, marking a price increase of just $500 over the previous version.

In exchange for the marginal price premium, customers are treated to an extra 10kW of power and 30Nm of torque courtesy of the “newly developed” turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 195kW/400Nm.

Paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the updated Macan will spring from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.2 second and push on to a top speed of 232km/h when specified with the optional Sport Chrono Pack.

Standard equipment highlights on the new base model include refreshed 19-inch alloy wheels, piano black interior pack, auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry and start, lane change assist, parking sensors front and rear, a reversing camera with surround view, privacy glass, 14-way power-adjustable comfort front seats with memory function and Apple CarPlay.

Stepping up the $105,800 ‘S’ variant garners the same standard equipment as the base model plus a heap of extra athleticism in the form of a sportier body kit, Porsche Active Suspension Management system (adaptive damping) and a new twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 good for 280kW/520Nm – 20kW/40Nm more than the old single-turbo mill.

Rest to 100km/h is dealt with in 4.6 seconds while the top speed is 259km/h (again with the Sport Chrono Pack) but the extra shove does come at a price – the new S is $5000 pricier than its predecessor.

The S also adds a few extra niceties compared to its lesser stablemate, including metallic paint, 20-inch alloys wheels and a Bose surround sound system.

At the top of the range, the GTS now rules the roost both on price and performance, essentially filling the shoes of the outgoing Turbo in both respects.

Priced from $129,800 and developing 324kW/550Nm, the new GTS matches the old Turbo on power but undercuts it by $15,500, although it is still $17,500 more than its predecessor.

The GTS is easily distinguishable from its siblings thanks to its blacked-out body treatment, lower ride height and 21-inch alloys, with the differences amplified further by the optional GTS Sport Package that adds GT wheels shod with high-performance tyres. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus is also included.

Already the jock of the range, the GTS boasts adaptive air suspension as standard, as well as the Sport Chrono Pack, and comes with all the niceties included on the S as well as a GT-spec steering wheel as seen on the 911.

Inside the cabin, all Macans benefit from a redesigned centre console with haptic controls taking the place of traditional buttons and switches, bringing what Porsche describes as a “clear structure to the cockpit”.

Other changes include a shortened gearlever and the addition of an analogue clock mounted at the top of the dash.

What remains to be seen is exactly where the confirmed but as-yet unrevealed electric Macan will fit within the range, though to begin with it is expected to slot comfortably into the upper reaches of the line-up.

As previously reported by GoAuto, the electric version is due to launch globally in 2023 and while next to no details have so far emerged from official sources, there are a few clues to be drawn from previous comments made by Porsche executives and the new Macan’s pricing model.

When the electric Macan was first confirmed, Porsche AG member of the executive board for research and development Michael Steiner said it would “offer typical Porsche E-Performance” and be the “sportiest model in its segment”.

Looking at other EVs within the Volkswagen Group portfolio, the electric Macan could well materialise with the same 95kWh battery pack and dual-motor set-up as the similarly sized Audi E-Tron, which in its most potent form develops 300kW/664Nm – expect the Porsche to exceed these figures.

The other giveaway is the new GTS’ $129,800 pricetag – $15,500 less than the outgoing Turbo while offering the same performance – that leaves plenty of real estate for a new halo variant to swoop in on further down the line.

Given Porsche has previously applied its ‘Turbo’ and ‘Turbo S’ nameplates to the back of its Taycan, it would not be unreasonable for the same to happen here, restoring the original Macan variant line-up.

Porsche Car Australia has sold 1422 Macans so far this year ending June, accounting for 8.9 per cent of the $60,000-plus medium SUV segment.