The new Porsche Macan looks like a cross between a Cayenne and a Cayman. The result is the market's sportiest SUV.
The Macan is the most commercially successful model in Porsche’s history although it has just made it to the market: the 50,000 units to be made in the first year of production of this mini-Cayenne are all sold.
And the Cayenne is indeed a key factor behind the Macan’s existence. After proving that it is possible to create a sporty SUV almost five metres long, Porsche wants to outdo itself and create the sportiest SUV on the market.
The Portuguese launch took place between Lisbon and the breathtaking scenery of Trigo de Morais dam, and Porsche Ibérica let us get our hands on the three versions available at the launch, each equipped, as standard, with seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and permanent all-wheel drive: the Macan S diesel, the Macan S and the Macan Turbo. It makessense that, of the three, the diesel will always be the one with the greatest commercial potential and, whereas the 3-litre, 258hp powerhouse unleashes an amazing performance for a diesel engine, together with the obvious advantages in terms of fuel consumption, the Macan Turbo is the real star of the range: 400 horsepower achieved with a 3.6-litre V6 engine, translating to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 266 km/h.
But numbers aren’t everything: the Macan Turbo is one of the most impressive cars of all time, one in which the laws of physics seem almost redundant when it
comes to treat this almost two-tonne vehicle as a small sports car – in terms of performance and dynamic behaviour it simply has no rival.
But the success of the Macan will boil down to it being a high quality product –as a Porsche it couldn’t be otherwise – and for having one of the most beautiful designs of the moment in the segment in which it operates. More modern, compact and proportional than the Cayenne and much more attractive than any direct rival from another brand, the Macan even appeals to those who have never been enamoured with SUVs.
The interior is stunning and in line with other models from the brand, excelling in terms of quality, ergonomics and balancing luxury
with an inevitable sports influence. The steering wheel borrowed from the 918 Spyder is particularly special.
The name Macan comes from the Indonesian word for tiger and fits today’s most spectacular compact SUV like a glove: whether through design, technology or engineering excellence, the Macan is ready to mercilessly pounce on its rivals.
