New Porsche Macan EV: first details revealed

• Entirely new electric platform
• All new interior and exterior design
• Over 600bhp in top-spec models

If you’re in the market for a premium mid-size SUV, chances are you’ve considered the Porsche Macan. First appearing in 2014, the Macan has proved a smash hit in Europe, combining a spacious, family car form factor with a high quality interior and a sporty driving experience that lives up to the Porsche badge. Ten years and two facelifts later, Porsche has announced the current Macan will be replaced by an all-new electric model – and it has a lot to live up to.

What’s new about the new Macan?

The most obvious thing to note is the lack of any petrol-powered model; the next Macan will be powered solely by batteries, joining the Porsche Taycan in the German marque’s electric lineup. Jointly developed with Audi, the new electric platform can support both single and dual-motor configurations, although Porsche will only offer the Macan with the latter, meaning four-wheel drive will be standard.

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The battery itself will have a capacity of approximately 100kWh, larger than the item found in the Taycan, and is rapid-charging compatible up to 270kW. Provided you can find a charger capable of that charging speed, the new Macan can be topped up from 10 to 80% in under 22 minutes. There’s also a high-voltage heat pump to warm the battery to its optimum operating temperature, helping the Macan to eke out as much range as possible. Speaking of range, Porsche claims up to 310 miles is achievable in the top-spec model.

Also helping to bump up range is a regenerative braking system. This will allow the Macan to recuperate energy during braking, topping up the battery. Porsche claims the system will “take place imperceptibly for the driver”, meaning the brake pedal shouldn’t feel any different to the current Macan’s. There’s no mention of one-pedal driving and, as it’s not available with the Taycan, we suspect it will be absent from the new Macan too.

What do we know about the interior?

Porsche has provided one image of the new Macan’s interior so far, and it looks to closely resemble that found in the recently updated Porsche Panamera. The traditional gear selector found on the current Macan’s centre console has been replaced by a toggle switch on the dashboard and the array of touch-sensitive climate control buttons has been simplified.

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Ahead of the driver is a new 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster, replacing the analogue dials found in the current Macan, along with an optional head-up display featuring augmented reality. This new technology will provide the driver with navigation arrows directly in their line of sight, projected within their real-world surroundings. 

A new 10.9-inch central touchscreen will handle infotainment duties, and there’s the option for an additional 10.9-inch display ahead of the passenger like the one offered in the most recent Porsche Cayenne’s interior. This can be used to control the infotainment and navigation, as well as to browse apps and watch movies. A clever film applied to the screen restricts the viewing angle of this display, meaning the driver won’t be distracted whilst you’re streaming Netflix.

Other new features include ambient lighting, which changes colour depending on drive mode and is used to flash warnings for the various driver assistance systems, and a smart voice assistant that will respond to “Hey, Porsche”.

What will the new Macan look like?

The new Macan will keep the general proportions of the current model, but with a more pronounced sloping roofline and new details to reflect Porsche’s latest styling language. The headlights are now split into two units; the upper lights feature four distinct daytime-running lights whereas the lower lights provide main and high beams.

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The rear of the new Macan will share similarities with its bigger Cayenne SUV sibling, with the tail-lights appearing slimmer than before. There will be a range of wheel sizes topping out at an enormous 22-inches, and we suspect top-spec models will gain unique, sportier-looking exterior styling elements.

What do we know about the new Macan’s performance?

The top-spec Macan Turbo model will have approximately 600bhp – a mighty step on from the 434bhp of the old Turbo and GTS models. We can expect rapid acceleration and smooth power delivery typical of an electric vehicle, but Porsche claims the new Macan will also be fun to throw through the corners too. Performance figures for the rest of the range are yet to be revealed, but we expect the entry-level model to produce somewhere in the region of 300 to 350bhp.

Porsche’s active suspension system, PASM, will be fitted as standard on top-spec Macans along with air suspension. The system reacts to road conditions and changes between different driving modes – Macans with air suspension will allow the driver to raise and lower the ride height, allowing for a choice between better efficiency or off-road ground clearance. Rear-wheel steering will be available for the first time, improving low speed agility and high speed stability.

Porsche Macan EV prototype review – Jordan Katsianis

We’ve had a chance to get behind the wheel of a prototype of the new Macan and were thoroughly impressed. The entry-level model, whilst not rapid, is perfectly quick enough. The brakes are greatly improved over Porsche’s other hybrid and electric models – the regenerative braking feels just as natural as the traditional brakes used in the outgoing petrol-powered Macan. It may weigh 2,200kg, but the new Macan has plenty of body-control, even in the entry-level car without air suspension.

The Turbo model provides big improvements in both straight-line speed and agility through the corners. Some rivals may be faster (although a 0-62mph time of under four seconds is hardly sluggish), but the new Macan feels much more engaging to drive than any other electric SUV we’ve tested.

How much will the new Macan cost and when can I order one?

Porsche hasn’t revealed any pricing information yet for the new Macan so we can only speculate, however it’s safe to assume that it will cost more than the current model as EVs tend to command a price premium over their petrol equivalents. It will be offered at launch in two variants: the entry-level Macan and the top-spec Macan Turbo. Order books should open midway through 2024.

What does this mean for car buyers?

The Macan is Porsche’s best selling model, with over 800,000 examples sold across the world since its launch in 2014 and many of them finding homes in the UK. Porsche’s decision to change the successful recipe and only offer the new Macan as an electric model is a bold one, however, our test drive suggests that the qualities we liked so much about the previous model haven’t been lost. As long as buyers are willing to make the switch to an EV, the new Macan could still be king of the premium mid-size SUVs when it goes on sale next year.

If you like the sound of a 600bhp SUV, make sure to read our top 10 list of the best performance SUVs...