Automotive

Porsche announces Macan compact SUV

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The Porsche Macan Turbo
The Porsche Macan Turbo at the Los Angeles Auto Show
The Mancan S showing rear spoiler
The Macan S is a five door
The Macan is Porsche's first compact SUV
Macan S at its world premiere
The Macan takes design cues from the sports car line
There is an optional exhaust pacakge
Engine of the Macan S
The new Macan SUV line
Macan S meeting the public
The Macan line will produced in Germany
The Macan comes in three variants
The Macan will be available in April
The Los Angeles Auto Show was chosen as the premiere venue
The Macan S has a V6 engine
Rear view of the Macan S
Interior of the Macan
Macan cockpit
Macan instrument cluster
Macan grille
The Macan Turbo is the premium version
The Porsche Macan Turbo
The Macan is Porche's first compact SUV
The tail lights of the Macan have been rengineered
The Macan S is designed for everyday driving
The Macan S has steel suspension
The Macan line uses an aluminum body
The Macan features the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system
The discs on the brakes are self-ventilated
The Macan has Porsche Stability Management
The Macan features Porsche Traction Management
The Macan Turbo
Interior of the Macan SUV
The lines of the Macan echo those of Porshce sports cars
x-ray view of the Macan turbo
The Macan Turbo can do 0 to 60 in 4.6 seconds
Two views of the Macan Turbo
Macan Turbo highlighting the air intakes
Readout for the optional Sport Chrono
The Macan S
Door detail of the Macan S
The Macan SUV uses a Bose sound system
Brakes for the Macan S and Turbo
The alternative sound system for the Macan
Airbag layout
Door controls
Childseat hardpoints
Passenger sunshade
Headlamp detail
Macan cockpit layout
Infotainment readout
Door details
Electronics dock
Macan Turbo with doors open
Exhausts detail
Headlamp detail
Storage space with seats down
Rear brake light
Forward indicator
Macan gearshift control
Macan dashboard
Macan front seats
Macan seating arrangement
Macan cockpit
Macan trim
The Macan SUV uses an active braking system
Macan S
The Macan S does 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds
Macan is Indonesian for tiger
Passengers ride low in the Macan, as in a sports car
The rear lights of the Macan are inspired by the 918 Spyder
Macan multi-function steering wheel
View gallery - 72 images

At first, the idea of Porsche making a compact SUV seems like Heston Blumenthal opening a rib joint. Notwithstanding, Porsche's recipe for mixing a sports car with a small 4x4 were revealed on Tuesday when the company presented the new Macan SUV line to the world at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Macan, a name derived from the Indonesian word for tiger, isn't the first SUV that Porsche has made, but it's the first compact model, and it does look as if the automaker has grabbed an Indonesian tiger by the tail. The concept involves combining a practical five-door, five-seat SUV with the power, performance and design elements of a Porsche sports car to make it immediately recognizable as part of the Porsche stable. The result of this are three variants – the Macan S, Macan Turbo, and Macan S Diesel.

Since this is Porsche’s take on the SUV, the emphasis is on lightness, speed, and handling. The aluminum body has a broad and low design with the driver and passengers in a low, sports car position. There are round lines mixed with precision edges, a sloping roof line and the soft rear wings from the 911 mixed with headlamps that Porsche says are based on the 918 Spyder, as are the rear lamps and the front spoiler lip. The bonnet is intended to echo the Porsche 917 and the side profile is what the designers call the "Porsche flyline."

The Macan is Porsche's first compact SUV

In all, there is a nice balance here. The Macan doesn't look like an SUV playing at being a sports car or like someone's been force-feeding a 911. That being said, it won't be mistaken for an off-road vehicle or something you're going to use to yank tree stumps out of the ground. Even letting the dogs in the back seems a bit daring and the socket for the trailer hitch is a bit of a surprise.

Porsche has put a lot of work into the aerodynamics of the Macan and the the side air intakes are a nice touch, suggesting that there's more going on under the bodywork than meets the eye. However, while the rear spoiler works in terms of style and (hopefully) function, it has an add-on quality to it.

Porsche says that everyday practicality was part of the Macan brief, so along with its 110-in (43.3 cm) wheelbase, the Macan has a large boot with fold-down seats that creates up to 17.7 cubic feet (501 liters) of space. There are also daytime running lights, fog lamps, and the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), which comprises a projector-beam halogen with static and dynamic cornering lights. Bi-Xenon main headlights are standard on the Macan Turbo.

Engine of the Macan S

The three variants of the Macan are based mainly around three different engine configurations. The Macan S has a front-located, all-wheel drive, 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine putting out 340 bhp (250 kW) and 390 ft lb (538 Nm) of torque. The Macan Turbo has a similar layout, though it’s a 3.6-liter job and punches a hefty 400 bhp (298 kW) and 406 ft lb (550 Nm) of torque. Meanwhile, the Macan S Diesel takes up the rear with a 6-cylinder, 3-liter, diesel making a more modest 258 bhp (190 kW) and 427 ft lb (580 Nm) of torque.

The engine difference is reflected in performance. The Macan S can do 0 to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 156 mph (km/h). The Macan Turbo strolls past this as it hits 60 in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 164 mph (km/h), and the Macan S Diesel does 6.3 seconds and 143 mph (230 km/h).

All the Macans share the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK), which is a 7-speed flappy paddle gearbox designed for extremely fast gear changes without interrupting power to the wheels, and for better startup performance. Steering is electromechanical, and there are 6-piston aluminum monobloc fixed-caliper brakes with internally vented disks. Brake calipers of the Macan S are silver-colored while the Macan Turbo’s are red.

Interior of the Macan

The Macan comes with a choice of suspensions. There’s the steel suspension and then there’s the air suspension, which are designed to work with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system. The air suspension is designed to keep the Macan level and adjust the ride height to 15 mm lower than is possible using with the steel springs. Porsche says that it lowers the center of gravity and improves performance and comfort. Meanwhile, the PASM provides electronic damping control with a choice of Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus modes.

Other features of the Macan include the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) system, designed for better cornering by redistributing drive force to all four wheels and direct and sporty steering action, and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system. The latter is standard on all Macan models and continuously monitors driving conditions and responds accordingly, adapting to the driver’s style. The PTM ensures that the rear axle is always driven while the front axle receives its drive torque from the rear axle using a controlled multi-plate clutch.

Also standard for the Macan is its off-road mode, which is activated by the touch of a button when the car is traveling under 50 mph (80 km/h). In addition, there’s the Sport button that makes the engine more directly responsive, enables the shift points to be moved towards the upper speed range, and shortens shift-response times.

Macan grille

The interior has an odd roomy cockpit feel about it – not quite enough space to spread out, and not snug enough to make you pretend you're in a fighter jet, while the readout on the optional Sport Chrono package is jarringly prominent.

The emphasis of the interior is on ergonomics with a forward-sloping console and general cockpit layout designed to put the multi-function steering wheel inspired by the 918 Spyder, gear selector, and other controls in easy reach.

The main instrument cluster is built around a centrally positioned tachometer with a gear indicator in it. There’s also a 4.8-inch color display in the right-hand dial to provide computer readouts and navigation information. The Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system is the central information and communications provider that controls navigation, infotainment, and access to online services via a 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen.

Macan instrument cluster

In terms of safety, the Macan has the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system, which uses sensors to monitor travel, speed, yaw velocity and lateral acceleration of the vehicle, and stabilizes it by selectively applying the brakes. Meanwhile, the Porsche Active Safe (PAS) cruise control helps to avoid collisions by regulating speed based on the car ahead, and the Lane Change Assist (LCA) system helps to avoid being blind-sided while overtaking, by monitoring neighboring lanes and taking control of the car if a lane change proves dangerous.

The Macan is being produced at Porsche’s Leipzig plant, where the company has invested €500 million (US$677 million), and will be available in April. The Macan S is priced at US$49,900, the Macan Turbo at $72,300, and the Macan S Diesel at $78,500.

The video below shows the Macan going for a spin.

Source: Porsche

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7 comments
The Skud
I still cannot warm to the latest 'safety' idea of stopping you changing lanes if a car is in a possible collision situation - If I see a car ahead of me suddenly and for no visible reason 'slamming' on his brakes I would rather risk a side-to-side impact by swerving, and avoid a rear ender, even with airbags and seat belts abounding. Unless you are totally unaware of traffic (cell phone cretin?) you should know - even with modern cars' built-in blind spots - if you can dodge a car driver ahead. People used to be taught HOW to drive, not how to steer and park.
hkmk23
Let us hope it is a great deal better than the Cayenne which is just flash crap for people who have never had or really do not need a real 4x4.
Rodney Fisk
Wow, they really priced the diesel option to appeal to current Mercedes Diesel owners--not.
Mirmillion
Too much money, sorry. Maybe try a price point $20,000 lower for the diesel and you might have something Nice work on the vehicle itself though.
dr.joe
Not sure where price for Diesel came from as Porsche Great Britain site some same price as Macan S. In any case, Porsche will sell boatloads of Macans (one will replace my wife's current BMW 525) and one would hope some part of the profit will trickle over to the sports car development budget.
Bruce White
This is more expensive than the grand cherokee diesel. And thats with the air suspension. No matter though, this will sell like hotcakes in the north american market right now. Diesel sales will be exploding on this side of the pond in 2014-2015. Cmon Ford give us a small pickup with a 4 cylinder diesel and 4x4. Whoever comes out with one first will own the market
Zappenfusen
I would love to have the bi-turbo in my 91 Jeep Cherokee. Does Porsche sell engines sans car? Another impression is the strong resemblance to my wife's Mazda 3-5 door hatchback. I was impressed with the Cayenne, but a Porsche has always been my dream car. The Macan is just another SUV which will never be driven where supposedly intended. I just love the Soccer Mom's loading groceries in dirty Cayenne's, making those lease payments but never washing them except when the dealer performs the deed as a "free" service. Momma told me to go to school and I now know why! If I was loaded this ego booster would still be highly over priced and we'd have to keep the Mazda to haul kid's, groceries, and anything having dirt applied.