Porsche Macan to Bring High Performance to Compact SUV Segment

NASHUA, N.H. (05/07/2012)(readMedia)-- Although billed as a compact SUV, the 2014 Porsche Macan will pack a big punch when it arrives at Porsche dealerships late next year, bringing along a dedicated high-performance option to its class for the first time. According to British auto publication Autocar, the range-topping Macan Turbo will deliver around 370 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, enough power to carve a sizeable niche for itself in the performance 4x4 department.

The Macan Turbo will be the first Porsche to feature the automaker's new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine, which Autocar says is derived from the 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 powerplant of its bigger brother, the Porsche Cayenne. The added power in the new engine comes from the addition of twin turbochargers and an air-to-air intercooler system, as well as other tweaks like a lower compression ratio. With a lack of high-performance trims from competitors like the BMW X3 and Range Rover Evoque, Porsche expects the Macan Turbo to be the fastest model in its small SUV class.

"It's fitting that the twin-turbo makes its debut in a vehicle named after the Indonesian word for tiger, because it matches the animal's mix of power and acceleration," said Larry Bedell, general manager of New Hampshire Porsche dealer Porsche of Nashua. "Of course, Porsche didn't just put all of its effort into developing the new 3.0-liter powerplant. No matter which engine you choose, the new Macan is designed to be a compact SUV that gets your heart racing."

Slotted beneath the Turbo, the Porsche Macan S will reportedly house the same naturally aspirated V6 in the current base Cayenne model. The Macan is also expected to bring back four-cylinder engines to the Porsche lineup for the first time since 1995, with one gas-powered unit outputting around 220 horsepower and a potential turbodiesel rated at 190 horsepower that has returned up to 45 mpg in initial testing. Porsche's new compact SUV may also be available with the same diesel V6 engine found in the upcoming Cayenne Diesel, and a hybrid drivetrain is likely in the works for the North American market.

The hybrid Porsche Macan is reported to combine a 208-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine with a 54-horsepower electric motor. Together, the hybrid and diesel Macan models would become the latest in Porsche's alternative-powertrain lineup, following the debut of the Cayenne Diesel in the United States this September.

Slated to become the first clean-diesel-powered Porsche available to American drivers, the 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel will feature a 3.0-liter V6 engine that delivers 240 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Porsche also expects the Cayenne Diesel to achieve class-leading fuel economy, including a predicted rating of 28 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, a mechanical safeguard in the fuel tank filler will prevent first-time diesel drivers from filling the tank with the wrong fuel by habit when they do stop at the pump.

"Unlike other luxury automakers, Porsche has showed careful planning around their entrance to the alternative-powertrain market, making sure their hybrids and diesels live up to the brand's name," added Bedell. "Their electric motors substantially boost power while improving fuel economy, while customers that want their fuel savings with more torque can go diesel. Alternative-fuel Porsches aren't just green; they're smart when it comes to performance."

About Porsche of Nashua:

A 2010 and 2011 Premier Porsche Dealer, Porsche of Nashua delivers customer service equal to the quality of the Porsche brand. For new and used Porsche sales, Porsche service and Porsche parts, choose the New Hampshire Porsche dealership that stands out from the rest. Interested Porsche shoppers can browse their inventory online at www.porschenashua.com, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/porscheofnashua, call them at 603-578-3744 or visit their dealership at 170 Main Dunstable Road in Nashua, N.H. Discover what a premier automotive buying and servicing experience can be at Porsche of Nashua.