Currently reading: Porsche Macan to get four-cylinder engine range
New junior SUV will be the first Porsche to use four-cylinder engines since the 968 in 1995

The Porsche Macan SUV will be sold with four cylinder engines “in the foreseeable” future, according to company engineers. That will make the compact SUV the first Porsche model with a four-pot engine since the 968 model ended production in 1995.

The four-cylinder petrol and diesel options are expected to be offered from 2015. The entry-level petrol side is tipped to be a turbocharged 2.0-litre unit with 280bhp. Also set for introduction is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel in a price-leading Macan Diesel. Both models will compete with higher-spec versions of the somewhat smaller Range Rover Evoque.

Porsche says the overwhelming aim of the project was to provide the Macan with “sports car” responses, claiming ‘best in class brake performance and steering precision’ as well as “very responsive” acceleration and gear-shifting abilities in addition to a more car-like driving position. 

The launch Macan models include the £43,300 Macan S (which gets a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo 335bhp engine ) and the £43,300 Macan Diesel S which gets a 254bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine good for 46.3mpg and 0-62mph in 6.3sec.The £59,300 Macan Turbo range-topping model has a 394bhp 3.6-litre V6 twin turbo and a 0-62mph time of 4.8sec.

The new Macan is based on the same basic steel structure as the Audi Q5 but, according to Porsche’s engineers, some “two thirds” of components have been replaced or modified. While the floor and bulkhead are the same as the Audi, the body’s upper structure and door structures are new. Porsche has also lowered the seating position and modified the position of the steering wheel, to make the driving position “more Porsche-like”.

While, like the Q5, the engine sits ahead of the front axle, Porsche's own 7-speed PDK transmission and ‘hang-on’ four wheel drive system ensure that – in steady state conditions – some 80 per cent of the engine’s torque is directed to the rear wheels. In extreme conditions, up to 100 per cent of torque can be directed to the front wheels for short periods.

The front suspension steering that has been redesigned to be “10 per cent quicker” and both axles get retuned bushes, dampers, springs and anti-roll bars. Porsche has fitted its own six-pot, aluminium, monobloc calipers to the front axle.

The Macan also gets the option of air suspension, which can be raised 40mm in off-road mode and lowered 10mm for high-speed driving. The rear of the car can be lowered 40mm to help with loading. Both the transmission and 4x4 system are claimed to react in “less than 100 milliseconds”.

Porsche is also offering the option of torque vectoring and a rear differential lock. The Macan has a 53/47 front/rear weight distribution and a 623mm high centre of gravity on the Turbo model and a 634mm on the diesel. Stop-start and a coasting function for the transmission are also standard.

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Porsche's 'junior Cayenne' promises and delivers on its dynamic and performance prowess to be be the most sporting SUV of its size. However, the market has changed with the newrivals threatening to challenge the Macan's crown, so does it have the stomach for a fight?

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The Macan is made at Porsche’s Leipzig plant, alongside the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Panamera. Porsche has installed a 50,000 per year capacity at Leipzig, but it is expected to expand when the four-cylinder models arrive.

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pauld101 11 December 2013

ah... the 924...

I have a Porsche 924. It is a a red one. It is a 1981 model. During the twenty-six years I've owned the old fräulein, I have given up counting the number of people who've come up to me and said "that's the one with the VW van engine in it, isn't it?". I've usually asked them which VW van has a inclined two-litre, Bosch mechanically fuel injected engine, which usually has them disappointed that their put-down has misfired. It will therefore give me the greatest pleasure to be able to go up to every Macan owner and say "That's a re-skinned VW Tiguan, isn't it? With the four cylinder, two litre VW engine?" Brilliant. Absolutely. Because it will be. And better than that, I'll be able to say "Of, course, it's not a real Porsche. The name is owned by VW now. They just choose which badges they stick on it". But actually it won't be brilliant. Actually it's disappointing. So very disappointing.
ballyblack 29 January 2014

VW Tiguan link?

pauld101 wrote:

It will therefore give me the greatest pleasure to be able to go up to every Macan owner and say "That's a re-skinned VW Tiguan, isn't it? With the four cylinder, two litre VW engine?" Brilliant. Absolutely. Because it will be...
But actually it won't be brilliant. Actually it's disappointing. So very disappointing.

Ahh actually, it is not a re-skinned Tiguan (which is based on the MKV Golf), but instead it's based on a Q5 (which in turn is a rehashed Audi A4 chassis), so I am just saving you the embarrassment of you getting your facts wrong in front of a Porsche Driver, who as you will testify, are very intelligent people!

The four cylinder two litre diesel, as you know, crosses the whole VAG range from Seat Ibiza FR to Audi A6 Avant.

B8tzim 11 December 2013

"Porschelike"

What would make this vehicle really 'Porschelike', and me a more likely buyer, would be the option of a 3 pedal manual transmission!
david RS 10 December 2013

Long live the FWD with a 4

Long live the FWD with a 4 pot Diesel!
Sporky McGuffin 10 December 2013

david RS wrote: Long live the

david RS wrote:
Long live the FWD with a 4 pot Diesel!
First time I drove a Porsche it was a 911 C4S, about eight years ago. At the time I had a Skoda Fabia TDi. I was awfully glad to get the Skoda back at the end of the 24 hour test drive. That C4S was useless in the snow. Didn't even have heated seats! So a 4- cylinder diesel FWD Porsche - sounds like an improvement to me. Let's hope they make it a small estate. Best of both worlds - the seats from the 911 in the Fabia.