It’s not often that you see the words ‘Porsche’ and ‘compact SUV’ in the same sentence, let alone placed next to each other. It is, however, a combination that motoring enthusiasts will see quite a lot of in the near future with Porsche’s launch of its second German SUV model, the Macan, in June 2014.
Compact SUVs are all the rage at the moment with prestige vehicles – think BMW and Mercedes – and the Porsche Macan will certainly be worth looking look out for. Keeping it all in the family, the Macan’s three models all have the iconic Porsche good looks with their traditionally rounded headlamps and spherical wheel arches. That’s not to say they are a carbon copy of Porsche’s other SUV, the Cayenne, as the Macan range certainly has its own unique style with a slightly smaller body length and a sloping roof and tailgate.
Comfortably seating five, the Macan comes with all the bells and whistles that are expected in a vehicle from the Porsche stable. Practicality isn’t forgotten, with the Macan having 500ltrs of boot space which is expandable up to 1500ltrs. All three Macan models are fitted with Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic PDK transmission and come with a standard fit out of four-wheel drive.
The Macan Diesel uses the same 3.0 litre Audi V6 engine that is installed in the Cayenne while the Macan S uses a smaller 3.0 litre version of the Macan Turbo’s 3.6 litre V6. All models will come with a variety of optional upgrades, including air suspension and ceramic composite brake discs .
Designed for off road use, Porsche are hoping that the Macan will fit smoothly into the compact SUV market. Released in Australia in mid-June, it will be interesting to see if the lure of a SUV with a uniquely super-car heritage proves to be a combination that is hard to resist for Australian buyers.
Source website:- http://watoday.drive.com.au/motor-news/porsche-macan-raises-prestige-suv-bar-20140217-32usj.html