Porsche, as a brand, is known to take a lot of risk when it comes to diversifying its product portfolio. Most of the risks such as the Cayenne and Panamera have paid off bringing in new customers. So the Stuttgart based manufacturer is all set to take on another challenge.
Porsche’s upcoming baby SUV is expected to be the brand’s first venture in the smaller crossover segment. Autobild.de presents us with the rendering of the upcoming baby Porsche and Autocar.co.uk provides us with juicy details.
- The Porsche Macan will be the fifth model line for Porsche after Boxster/Cayman, 911, Cayenne and Panamera.
- The Porsche Macan is based on the Volkswagen Group’s next-generation large front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive platform known as MLB.
- The Macan will be available in a five-door layout similar to that of the Cayenne. But it is than the Cayenne, with an overall length of about 4.6m, width of 1.89m and height of 1.65m. That’s about 210mm shorter, 50mm narrower and 40mm lower than Cayenne.
- The engine options that will be available are:
Petrol engines -
- 3.6L twin-turbocharged V6 generating 370bhp
- 3.6-litre petrol V6 with 295bhp
- 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor with 220bhp
Diesel engines -
- 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 diesel with 309bhp
- 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel with 250bhp
- 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 190bhp
- A Macan hybrid is also planned with 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol with 208bhp mated to a 54bhp electric motor.
- All engines will be mated to a standard seven-speed manual or an optional seven-speed, dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission.
- It will have a range of fuel-saving features such as automatic stop-start, brake energy recuperation and on-demand operation of engine ancillaries. Higher models will have a ‘sailing’ function that uses a clutch to disengage the engine on a trailing throttle and during descents.
- The Macan will not be an off-roader so no low-range gearing or locking differentials. But it will have all wheel drive and sufficient ground clearance to go off road occasionally.
- It will feature an Audi-engineered, Porsche-tweaked Torsen torque-sensing differential with electronically controlled torque vectoring for the rear wheels to improve turn-in and cornering grip.
- The Audi Q5 will donate its suspension unit - including strut front and multi-link rear suspension - but the Macan gets a unique elasto-kinematics thanks to specific bushes, springs and damping rates.
- It will feature a electro-mechanical steering system for maximum feedback
- It will offer a relatively lesser interior space than BMW X3 or an Audi Q5 but the interior will closely resemble the Cayenne.
- The Macan will help Porsche achieve its target of 200,000 units yearly sales. It hits the showrooms in October next year and is India bound soon after its global launch.
Source: autocar.co.uk & Autobild.de
