Porsche Macan S PDK
Porsche’s midsize SUV has received a thorough upgrade and, in S guise, it’s arguably a rival to its Cayenne sibling
ELITE derivatives may be the most expensive (and least cost-effective) examples of their respective ranges but many South Africans cannot resist buying them. Here’s an example: in the local range of the award-winning Volkswagen Golf, the GTI version is the bestseller. Granted, the GTI is an iconic nameplate, but the new-vehicle sales figures of the Volkswagen Amarok double-cab bakkie follow a similar trend: as many as 70% of buyers opt for the 3,0-litre TDI V6 derivative.
And, sometimes, buyers favour products that are fundamentally surplus to their needs. If you compare Porsche’s local vehicle-sales statistics for the Cayenne and its smaller Macan sibling, the larger, more expen- sive luxury SUV easily trounces its midsize sibling. I can’t help but wonder: how many buyers really utilise the full occupant and luggage-carrying capacities of the Cayenne? Surely a well-specified Macan would suit most of those purchasers’ needs perfectly?
With the local addition of a more affordable Macan model (powered by a 2,0-litre fourcylinder turbopetrol motor), the range will start from a lower base than before, separating the entry-point of the Macan range further from the Cayenne.
However, while attending the international launch event of the updated model, the S version really caught my attention. Equipped with a 3,0-litre turbopetrol V6 (as used in the Panamera and Cayenne), it develops 260 kw and 480 N.m; improvements of 10 kw and 20 N.m respectively over the outgoing S model.
In terms of the exterior design, notable upgrades include a more distinctive front grille replete with side air intakes, while the side blades are now offered in no fewer than four trims, or body-colour. At the rear, a horizontal LED bar (incorporating the Porsche name) bridges the
tail-light clusters. The wheels range from 18-inch alloys up to flashy, bigger-is-always-better 21-inch items.
By virtue of its cosmetic upgrades, the Macan looks more modern and sharply styled than its predecessor (especially in S guise) and, true to form, its stance is as bold and purposeful as we’ve come to expect from a Porsche SUV.
Mallorca offers a good variety of roads, including some sensationally tight, hairpin-littered mountain passes. The 200 km evaluation route offered ample opportunities to explore what the updated Macan has to offer driving-wise.
Equipped with permanent all-wheel drive (more torque is sent to the rear wheels most of the time) in conjunction with torque-vectoring and the optional GT sports steering wheel (marginally smaller than the standard wheel), the Macan S is a rather playful premium SUV. The seven-speed PDK (dual-clutch automatic transmission) swaps cogs briskly and the S enables you to lean on the throttle early when exiting corners. As the roads were wet during certain parts of the drive and PSM (Porsche stability management) was set to sport mode, the rear-end could be provoked to step out in tighter corners.
Our test unit was fitted with the optional Sport Chrono Package, which enables the driver to select the driving mode (normal, sport, sport plus or individual) on the fly by toggling a rotary switch on the bottom half of the steering wheel.
Make no mistake, even though this is “but a facelift” of the Macan, virtually every aspect of the SUV has been honed. On the front axle, the steel spring forks of the previous version have been replaced by aluminium units, which has led to a reduction in unsprung mass. The brakes have also been upgraded; the front discs on the S have increased in size (diameter and thickness),