Los Angeles 2013: Porsche Macan

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

Expected to become the automaker’s best selling model just as surely as brand purists decry it as another example of the company abandoning its sports car roots, Porsche introduced the brand’s first compact CUV, the Macan, the firm’s fifth distinct model. The little crossover will compete with vehicles like the Range Rover Evoque.

Initial production will be 50,000 units a year and it shares a platform with fellow VW Group brand Audi’s Q5. Positioned below the larger, more expensive Cayenne, the Macan will come in three versions, two gasoline powered and one diesel. The base Macan S has a 340 hp 3.0 liter twin turbo V6, the Macan S Diesel has a 258 hp 3 liter V6 oil burner, and the top of the line Macan Turbo with another bi-turbo gasoline engine, this one a 400 hp, 3. 6 liter V6, the first application of this particular engine. All models come with all wheel drive and a seven speed dual clutch transmission. Suspension is with a five-link front end and a rear trapezoidal link design, available in three grades.

Prices in Germany start at 57,930 euros ($78,190) for the Macan S and Macan S Diesel and 79,826 euros for the Macan Turbo. The Macan will hit dealer showrooms dealers on April 5.

It’s likely that the Macan and Cayenne will eventually make up more than half of Porsche’s sales. That’s a point of contention with sports car purists, but while Porsche sold just 1.6% of the cars the VW conglomerate sold through the first nine months of 2013, it accounted for 22% of the group’s operating profit, so don’t expect Porsche to abandon the product planning and path that has made it the most profitable car company on the planet.

Siegfried Buelow, head of the Leipzig plant, which will assemble the Macan and already makes the Panamera scoffs at the notion that Porsche has lost its way. When the Cayenne was introduced 11 years ago, Buelow said, “there were calls back then that Porsche was diluting its profile. Today, we work three shifts a day and are struggling to keep up with demand.”







TTAC Staff
TTAC Staff

More by TTAC Staff

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 24 comments
  • IHateCars IHateCars on Nov 21, 2013

    According to the Porsche US site, the Macan S starts at $49.9K. I'm sure that when you option it up to a moderate equipment level, it will hit $60K no problem. Still a nice little ute, though....I like it!

    • Lie2me Lie2me on Nov 21, 2013

      The Cayenne also starts at the same price. I'm not sure I understand Porsche's marketing strategy pricing them both the same

  • Beerboy12 Beerboy12 on Nov 21, 2013

    Oddly enough I really like it. really don't like the big one, it's looks do not sit well with me and then there is that whole "more money than brains" thing, but this one, looks great!

  • Arthur Dailey Good. Whatever upsets the Chinese government is fine with me. And yes they are probably monitoring this thread/site.
  • Jalop1991 WTO--the BBB of the international trade world.
  • Dukeisduke If this is really a supplier issue (Dana-Spicer? American Axle?), Kia should step up and say they're going to repair the vehicles (the electronic parking brake change is a temporary fix) and lean on or sue the supplier to force them to reimburse Kia Motors for the cost of the recall.Neglecting the shaft repairs are just going to make for some expensive repairs for the owners down the road.
  • MaintenanceCosts But we were all told that Joe Biden does whatever China commands him to!
  • Rick T. If we really cared that much about climate change, shouldn't we letting in as many EV's as possible as cheaply as possible?
Next