What Car?

Porsche Macan

Reinvented sports SUV borrows its electric motors and batteries from the class-leading Taycan performanc­e car

- Charlie Martin Charlie.martin@haymarket.com

THE PRESSURE OF trying to produce a follow-up to a hit rst album is infamously immense. But as Porsche prepares to launch a new version of its best-selling model, the Macan, it isn’t playing things safe.this new Macan will go fully electric and attempt to blend the staggering performanc­e of Porsche’s Taycan saloon with a relatively compact SUV body.

To this end, it’s likely to be powered by the same electric motors as the Taycan. In that car, they churn out between 322bhp and 617bhp (or 750bhp for brief spells). Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, which signi cantly improves handling by actively countering body lean, is also likely to be optional.

Expect a maximum of cial range of around 300 miles and the ability to rapid charge the battery from 10-80% in around 20 minutes if you specify the optional 800-volt charging functional­ity.

Despite the radical changes under the skin, you can expect an evolutiona­ry exterior design, but with slimmer headlights and a closed-off front grille.

Meanwhile, spy shots reveal that the interior features a fully digital instrument panel and large central infotainme­nt touchscree­n, but with the latter mounted higher than it is in the Taycan so that you don’t have to take your eyes as far from the road to use it. In addition, Porsche appears to have added a control dial, which should further improve ease of use.

The existing petrol-powered Macan will continue to be sold alongside the new electric model for the time being.the electric model will be positioned above the regular one, though, meaning a likely starting price of around £70,000.

‘A system that actively counters body lean is likely to be optional’

 ?? ?? New electric Macan is expected to look similar to the existing model, which will remain on sale alongside it
New electric Macan is expected to look similar to the existing model, which will remain on sale alongside it

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