Porsche's electric Macan put through paces ahead of reveal
Jan 12, 2024
The upcoming all-electric Porsche Macan is entering a grueling stage of its testing program as it prepares for its worldwide debut, with exposure to extreme conditions now part of the daily routine and more than three and a half million kilometres covered to date.
It’s hard to believe that the Macan launched ten years ago now, but that is a significant stint in the market for any model generation. It’s no surprise then that the new Macan is so hotly anticipated, with the all-electric form set to take the headlines.
Porsche’s first fully electric SUV will also be their first vehicle built on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE), paving the way for Porsche to continue expanding their electrified range. The new platform is being tested extensively in real-world situations on the road, but virtual world and wind-tunnel testing are becoming increasingly effective and play an ever-greater role in development.
A challenge of developing the fully electric Macan was achieving the aerodynamic requirements needed to ensure high efficiency and therefore high range without losing the identity of what makes a Porsche.
“Finding the optimal connection between our design principles and the specifications given to us by the aerodynamics engineers is certainly a challenge,” says Peter Varga, Director Exterior Design at Style Porsche. “We’re working together on every millimetre to achieve the optimal balance between aesthetics and function.”
Porsche believes they have succeeded in this endeavour with a plethora of innovative solutions. This includes a completely flat underbody, like a race car, for aerodynamic efficiency, and Porsche Active Aerodynamics in key areas around the vehicle – all working to reach a WLPT range of at least 500km for all variants.
It’s not all about efficiency however, as Porsche engineers have worked incredibly hard to maintain the involving driving dynamics that define the brand. With the top model tipped to have more than 1,000Nm of torque and Porsche Active Suspension Management, you can expect the all-electric Macan to still have no problems getting the adrenaline pumping.
For those concerned with charging, the Macan uses 800-volt architecture that allows for high-performance fast-charging of up to 270kW. This can charge the 100kWh lithium-ion battery from 10% - 80% in less than 22 minutes.
The new Macan will be revealed on the 25th of January, with orders opening through Giltrap Porsche shortly after.