There’s no denying that the Porsche Macan crossover has been a success, selling over 2,000 models in Canada last year. Not content to rest on its laurels, however, Porsche has released yet another version of the Macan, just four months after it debuted the Macan GTS in LA last November.
The newest Porsche SUV is simply called “Macan” – no “Turbo” or “S” this time – and it’s powered by the smallest engine seen in a Porsche since the 1960s.
It's an engine that represents yet another application of the popular 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit found elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group. The 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque it makes, however, is the highest output of any car in the VW world that uses the powerplant, and it’s mated to a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, meaning it should shift faster than anything else VW offers, too. Peak torque, meanwhile, comes at a comfortable 1,600 to 4,500 rpm, so you can be sure that the Macan will feel fast, no matter the driving situation.
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There’s an optional launch control system, too. Power is fed, of course, to all four wheels, although you can be sure the Macan will maintain the rear-biased set-up found elsewhere in the range. That should help handling, as will the 1,770-kg curb weight, making this particular Macan the lightest SUV Porsche sells. Niceties like air-ride suspension, Porsche Traction Management, and adaptive dampers remain, making this a complete performance package, even if it is down two cylinders on the rest of the Macan line-up.
Pricing for Canada has not yet been announced, but it's expected that the base model of the new Macan will come in lower than the current models.
