Porsche lobs four-pot Macan

PORSCHE Cars Australia has rounded out its Macan SUV range with a new entry-level four-cylinder petrol variant starting from $76,610 plus on-road costs.

The new base Macan is priced just over $15,000 less than the next most affordable variant, the $91,855 Macan S Diesel, making the new entry point to the Porsche range Down Under.

Porsche’s new Macan is priced to compete with a number of other premium mid-size SUVs including the Jaguar F-Pace 20d Prestige ($74,340), Mercedes-Benz GLC250 4Matic ($80,100), BMW X4 xDrive20d ($74,900) and the Range Rover Evoque Si4 HSE ($77,085).

The new powertrain is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 185kW and 370Nm between 1600 and 4500rpm, matched with the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission that drives all four wheels.

As previously reported by GoAuto, it is the same unit found under the bonnet of VW Group sister brand Audi’s A4 2.0 TFSI Quattro Sport.

Porsche says the new Macan can complete the 0-100km/h dash in 6.7 seconds – or 6.5s when optioned with the Sport Chrono Package – before hitting a top speed of 229km/h.

Official combined fuel consumption for the 1770kg Macan – the lightest Porsche SUV available – is rated at 7.4 litres per 100km, which is 1.3L less than the thirstier 3.0-litre turbo V6 under the bonnet of the Macan S.

The German car-maker says the engine was built to be “particularly sporty and efficient” and it functions with up to two bar of boost pressure, as well as charge-air cooling, petrol direct injection and variable valve timing.

VarioCam Plus adapts the intake and exhaust camshaft continually and also controls the lift of the exhaust valves.

It also features the Porsche Traction Management all wheel-drive system, while an air suspension system with levelling control and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and adaptive dampers is available as an option.

It features some flourishes to differentiate it from other Macan variants, including black side window trim strips and black brake callipers.

Standard gear in the new variant includes park assist front and rear, a reversing camera, bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic levelling, 19-inch Macan Turbo wheels, lane departure warning, a memory package for the electric driver’ s seat and Alcantara seat inserts.

It also comes with three-zone automatic climate control, digital radio, tyre pressure monitoring and Porsche Communication Management (PCM), which includes navigation, phone and audio connectivity and a voice control system.

Porsche says the Macan four-cylinder is available to order now with deliveries kicking off late in the first quarter of next year.

Other variants in the Macan range include the Macan S ($92,800), the recently launched GTS ($109,200) and the flagship Macan Turbo ($130,000).

As reported, a new range-topping twin-turbo 324kW V6 version, dubbed Macan Turbo Special Performance, is also set to make its debut in March next year.

The Macan continues to be Porsche’s top seller in Australia, and with 2019 sales to the end of October, it is outpacing the BMW X4 (1460), Volvo XC60 (1788) and the Jaguar F-Pace (566) for sales – although the Jag only launched in July.

2016 Porsche Macan pricing*

Macan (a)	$76,610
Macan S Diesel (a)	$91,855
Macan S (a)	$92,800
Macan GTS (a)	$109,200
Macan Turbo (a)	$130,000

*Excludes on-road costs