Macan range consolidated, with upgraded 434bhp GTS the new flagship
Porsche has revealed a renewed and refreshed Macan, consolidating the model range by dropping the Turbo variant and upgrading the GTS model to compensate. The Macan remains an extremely strong seller for Porsche, its sales second only to the Cayenne and its wider spread of derivative models, but this update more controversially signals Porsche’s decision to diverge from the usual seven-year model lifecycle, keeping the current generation car in production despite it having been on sale in largely the same form since 2014.
The new Macan is available with only two engine choices, a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol, the latter previously specific to the now-defunct Turbo. Both S and GTS models now utilise the V6 and produce 376bhp and 434bhp respectively. This represents a 58bhp rise for the GTS, bringing it equal to the previous Turbo that it now effectively replaces.
The new GTS is more expensive than before, costing from $89,100 – this is a rise of nearly $10,000 compared to the previous GTS, but is still around $5500 less than the old Turbo. It does eclipse the previous Turbo’s acceleration figure though, reaching 100kph in 4.3sec, 0.2sec faster. Top speed remains unchanged from the old Turbo at 270kph.
The new GTS also picks up the Turbo’s air-suspension system, which runs a new set-up that sits 10mm lower to the ground, and has stiffer air springs front and rear (by 10 and 15 percent respectively). Adaptive dampers are standard fit, and Porsche is also offering an optional GTS Sports Package, bundling together a torque-vectoring rear differential, the Sports Chrono package and larger 21-inch wheels and tyres.
The aesthetic updates are gentle, with new bumpers front and rear but no major changes to the lighting or the bodyshell. There are new colour and trim options, though, including no less than seven fresh wheel designs.
More attention has been paid to the interior, which has traded Porsche’s old button-festooned centre console for a sleeker touch-sensitive unit. Beyond this, the dash remains as before, so too the physical transmission lever, analogue dial pack and relatively small 10.9-inch infotainment system, albeit running Porsche’s latest infotainment software.
Yet perhaps more important than the new Macan itself is the confirmation of Porsche’s bold choice not to develop an all-new version of a proven sales success, instead keeping this current generation car on life support while work continues on the development of an all-electric alternative. Will Porsche eventually replace the Macan with a new combustion-engined model, or will we only ever see one generation of the model that helped Porsche become the profit powerhouse it is today? Early signs are pointing to the latter…
This article originally appeared at evo.co.uk
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