Next-generation Porsche Macan revealed – When it’s going on sale in South Africa

Porsche has finally revealed the second-generation Macan, five years after it was first announced.
The covers were pulled off the new SUV today at the Singapore Art Week, showing off two new fully-electric models – the Macan 4 and the Macan Turbo – along with a confirmation that the first units are scheduled to commence deliveries in various countries during the second half of 2024.
TopAuto reached out for comment from Porsche South Africa regarding the Macan’s local launch, and it confirmed that the new SUV will only arrive here in 2025, with pricing to be disclosed closer to the launch window.
Performance
First launched 10 years ago, the Macan has been one of the German automaker’s biggest success stories, with more than 800,000 units sold to date.
This new version is intended to be the sportiest model in its segment, something made possible by the company’s latest generation of PSM electric motors mounted over both the front and rear axles.
These motors provide the Macan 4 with up to 300kW and 650Nm, letting it sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.2 seconds and achieve a maximum speed of 220km/h.
If that isn’t enough, the Turbo has you covered with an incredible 470kW and 1,130Nm, which gives it a blistering acceleration time of 3.3 seconds and a higher performance ceiling of 260km/h.
The motors draw power from a centrally-mounted, lithium-ion battery with a gross capacity of 100kWh, giving the 4 and Turbo a WLTP range of 613km and 591km, respectively.
Porsche has designed the SUV with its new 800-volt architecture, which can support a DC charging speed of 270kW – effectively charging the battery from 10 to 80% in 21 minutes.
At 400-volt charging stations, the battery can divide itself in half for more efficient top-ups at a rate of 135kW. A more conventional household 11kW AC outlet is also supported.
For the first time, the Macan is optionally available with rear-axle steering, which enables a compact turning circle of 11.1 metres while providing better driving stability at high speeds.
The Turbo also comes standard with air suspension featuring Porsche Active Suspension Management and electronic damping control.
Design
The next-gen Macan is 4,784mm long, 1,938mm wide, and 1,622mm high, making it almost identical in size to the current models.
However, the wheelbase is 86mm longer at 2,893mm, and the car is fitted with 22-inch alloy wheels with regenerative brakes that can recover up to 240kW as standard.
The headlights are now divided into two parts and are complemented by a set of four-point LED daytime-running lights embedded in the wings. Customers will have the option to fit Matrix LED headlamps, too.
The Porsche logo now sits in the centre of a 3D light strip, the doors are frameless, and the vehicle’s shoulders have been made more pronounced to give it a burlier look.
Improving aerodynamics is a new adaptive rear spoiler, active cooling flaps on the front air intakes, and flexible seals on the underbody – all of which aid the SUV in achieving a drag coefficient of 0.25.
The lack of an engine means there is now an 84-litre “frunk,” and the boot can swallow a total of 540 litres even when the rear seats are up, compared to the first-gen’s 458 litres.
Looking inside, an LED light strip runs around the cockpit and doors, helping to accentuate the new dashboard with its free-standing 12.6-inch curved driver display and 10.9-inch infotainment system.
Buyers can also install another 10.9-inch screen for the front passenger, allowing them to view information and adjust settings on the infotainment system as well as stream video content on the move.
Another new addition is an augmented reality (AR) display, which can project information onto the windscreen in a way that visually integrates with the real world at a distance of 10 metres away.
The operating system is based on the latest Android Automotive software, which has third-party app support and includes voice commands and suggestions for routes with charging locations.