A Stuttgart, Germany-based Porsche has made an all-electric SUV that's centered on performance, with the bonus of also being primed for daily driver duties. The redesigned 2024 Porsche Macan was revealed this week.
Newsweek was among the first members of the automotive media to ride in the model late last year.
The Macan is the best-selling Porsche and the smallest spot utility vehicle (SUV) the company makes.
Despite being small, it's big on Porsche personality, albeit for a new generation. Divided headlights, frameless doors, and pronounced shoulders are key to the design characteristics.
The SUV is 188.4 inches long, 84.7 inches wide and 63.8 inches high. That's two inches longer than the previous version and around eight inches wider. It's about the same height.
Its wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than the 2023 Macan's. The new Macan can be optioned with up to 22-inch wheels with staggered tire fitment.
Porsche will offer the 2024 Macan in two variations: Macan 4 and Macan Turbo. Development of the models combined lessons learned from the development of the company's all-electric sports car, the Taycan.
"Our aim is to offer the sportiest model in its segment with the all-electric Macan. In many ways, we are taking a very successful SUV to a new level," Jörg Kerner, Vice President Product Line Macan, said in a press release.
The new Macan follows in the DNA of its predecessors. The Macan 4 will offer 402 horsepower (hp) and 479 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque to drivers. It can get off the line and to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 4.9 seconds. It can reach 136 mph on a track.
Porsche's 2024 Macan Turbo has 630 hp 833 lb-ft of torque at the ready. That power pushes the SUV to 60 mph off the line in 3.1 seconds. Its top track speed is 161 mph.
All that power comes from a 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack that is part of the car's 800-volt architecture. This is the first time Porsche has deployed the architecture.
Other automakers, including those under the Hyundai Motor Group umbrella, already use similar technology in their models.
Porsche expected Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range estimates to be made available closer to the car's launch date.
The electric Macan can charge at a rate of up to 270 kilowatts, moving from a 10- to 80-percent state of charge in as little as 21 minutes under ideal charging conditions. Porsche has enabled the model to recoup power via regenerative braking.
Both the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo come equipped with all-wheel drive. It combines with available rear axle steering and an electronically controlled differential lock on the rear axle to deliver the traction, driving stability and lateral dynamics Porsche owners have come to expect in a vehicle.
"Thanks to its particularly sporty seat position and low center of gravity, as well as its impressive driving dynamics and steering precision, the new Macan delivers a real sports car feeling," said Product Line Vice President Jörg Kerner in a press release.
An air suspension and the SUV's active suspension management program allow drivers to enjoy the ride, while honing the drive characteristics that they desire.
Macan's electrified platform has allowed for more cargo space in the new model than the last. It's also made it possible for a 2.9 cubic-foot storage space to be available under the hood.
Porsche has given the Macan a 4,409-pound towing capacity.
The interior of the Macan has been redesigned for the SUV's new era. It features an LED light strip extending from the doors through the cockpit that acts as ambient light and a communication center that can provide warnings based or information based on the situation.
Eco-friendly interior elements are part of the new Macan's roster. Buyers can opt for leather-free seats. Floor mats and flooring feature Econyl, a material made from regenerated nylon.
In front of the driver is a 12.6-inch instrument cluster while a 10.9-inch infotainment screen sits at the center of the dashboard. A matching 10.9-inch passenger screen is also available. It allows passengers to stream video while the car is in motion.
A head-up display and augmented reality technology are part of the new Porsche Driver Experience. Drivers can say "Hey Porsche" to awaken voice control functionality.
The Macan's infotainment system is new for this generation and runs Android Automotive OS in the background. Drivers can utilize Apple CarPlay while behind the wheel as well.
Porsche has priced the Macan to start at $78,800 for the Macan 4. The Macan Turbo will set buyers back $105,300. Both models' pricing does not include the $1,650 delivery fee.
Interested parties can order a new, electric Macan now. First deliveries are expected in the second-half of 2024.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & ... Read more
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