Porsche to enter the smaller crossover segment with its Macan

The Stuttgart based auto titan, Porsche is known for branching out its product line-up and luckily some of them like Cayenne and Panamera have attracted a lot of customers. The company is all set on taking another challenge in the form of a smaller SUV which is expected to be Porsche’s first model in the compact SUV and crossover category. Pictures and details regarding the same have hit the web. After Porsche Boxster/Cayman, 911, Cayenne and Panamera, the Porshce Macan will be next in the model line-up.

Based on the MLB platform – a next generation large front wheel and four wheel drive platform - of Volkswagen Group, the Porsche Macan will sport a five-door layout just like the Cayenne. The new car will be available in both the diesel and petrol variant with three engine options in each version, all of which would be paired with a standard seven-speed manual or an optional seven-speed, dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission. A Hybrid Porsche Macan is also on the cards which will drive power from a combination of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine capable of generating 208bhp of power and an electric motor capable of pumping out 54bhp of power.

The three engine option in the diesel version include the 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 diesel engine driving 309bhp of power, 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel pumping out 250bhp of power and 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine generating 190bhp of power.The petrol version will also span across three engine options which are, 3.6L twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine driving a power of 370bhp, 3.6-litre petrol V6 engine pumping out a power of 295bhp and 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor producing a power of 220bhp.

The features gracing the Macan are pretty fuel-saving like automatic start-stop, on-demand operation of engine accessories and brake energy recovery; an additional feature gracing the top-end model will be the ‘sailing’ function that would use a clutch to disengage the engine on a trailing accelerator and during descents. Since, the Porsche Macan is not intended as an off-roader, the low-range bearings or locking differentials have not found a place; however, the car is rendered with four-wheel drive and enough ground clearance to go off-road on rare occasions.

The car is equipped with bucket-load of superior features that complement the brand name such as the suspension unit of Audi Q5 which includes strut front and multi-link suspension with unique elasto-kinematics, an electro-mechanical steering system and tweaked version of Audi’s torque sensing differential with electronically controlled torque vectoring that helps in improving turn-in and cornering grip. On the inside the car is expected to sport lesser space than the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 but Macan will bear close resemblance to the Porsche Cayenne. The Porsche Macan will make its global debut in October 2013 and its launch in the Indian car market will follow soon. Porsche is looking at Macan as the biggest contributor in helping the company achieve its target of selling 200,000 units per year.