Porsche Macan to launch in Malaysia this year
Porsche has confirmed that its all-new Macan junior SUV will arrive in Malaysian shores on the fourth quarter of this year. Order books are officially opened, and local distributors Sime Darby Auto Performances (SDAP) has loaned a LHD display unit from Porsche AG that was previewed to the media today and will be making a public appearance at Bangsar Shopping Centre on 21 to 25 May 2014.
A compact SUV positioned below the Cayenne, the Macan stretches the tape measure at just under 4.7 metres; with such dimensions, one would suspect VW Group underpinnings, and that would be a correct assumption. The Macan derives its platform from the Audi Q5, with its engine mounted in the north-south direction. It’s a bit more than a Q5 with a Porsche badge slapped on it, however, as more than two-thirds of its components are unique – front and rear tracks are widened, but wheelbase is shortened.
Official pricing has yet to be confirmed, but Arnt Bayer, CEO of SDAP, has indicated that the company hopes to get the entry level variant, which will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, to hit the market at no higher than RM450,000. Likely to be the main-selling model, the base Macan produces outputs of 237hp and 350Nm. It is notable for being the first Porsche model powered by a four-cylinder engine since the 968 discontinued production in 1995.
Further up the range comes a trio of turbocharged V6 petrol and diesel engines with capacities ranging from 3.0- to 3.6-litres and outputs from 258hp up to 400hp. Closest to each other are the Macan S and Macan S Diesel, both displacing three litres and priced a mere RM10k apart at an estimated RM560,000 and RM550,000 respectively.
The petrol-powered Macan S is charged with two turbos, producing 340hp and dispatching the century sprint in 5.4 seconds en route to a top speed of 254kph. The oil-burning Macan S Diesel, meanwhile, generates a mere 258hp, an 82hp deficit over its petrol counterpart which it makes up for with superior torque (580Nm compared to 460Nm of the petrol Macan S) and fuel economy (6.3-6.1 l/100km vs 9.0-8.7 l/100km). It is, as you would expect, slower off the line, relatively, needing 6.3 seconds to dash from zero to 100kph.
Topping the range is the 3.6-litre V6 biturbo Macan Turbo, a bit of a misnomer since all variants of the Macan are already turbocharged anyway. It produces a resounding 400hp and 550Nm to complete the century sprint in 4.6 seconds and max out at 266kph. European cycle tests give it a rated consumption of 9.2-8.9 l/100km and carbon dioxide emissions of between 216 and 208 g/km.
Globally, all versions of the Macan will come fitted with Porsche’s 7-speed PDK dual clutch transmission sending power to an active all-wheel drive system that perpetually drives the rear wheels, but designed to reroute torque back to the front when required. Control of the AWD system is integrated with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM), with various systems such as an electronic multi-plate clutch, Automatic Brake Differential, and stability control, all working in conjunction with each other.
“The Macan is the first sportscar in the compact SUV segment and it is the fifth model line-up for the Porsche brand. It combines all the typical Porsche driving characteristics with all the benefits of what a compact SUV can offer in the everyday life. I am certain that with the new Macan, we will be able to reach out to owners who are looking into joining the Porsche family for the first time as well as to excite our long-term customers,” Bayer remarked.
