When you think of Porsche, speed, elegance and innovation may come to mind. With the announcement of the all-electric Macan, Porsche is writing a new chapter in its rich history. Imagine an SUV that is not only iconic in its looks, but also revolutionary in its technology. However, there is a clear prediction of a different future for this brand.
A year 2024 will mark an important turning point for Porsche as it introduces an all-electric Porsche Macan EV SUV. This model is not just another upgrade; represents a thorough transformation, as it will be the first Porsche car built on the Premium Electric Platform. This is not just an engine change, but a complete overhaul that promises exciting innovations. AND a serious turn towards the electrification of the entire sales range.
The electric Porsche Macan EV will be powered by the same 800-volt powertrain that already impresses in the Taycan model. But we hope that without its shortcomings. Porsche plans to drive the Macan nearly two million miles in the real world, in addition to completing millions more in virtual tests. This extensive testing program ensures that the Macan will meet Porsche's high standards in terms of performance, reliability and efficiency. And that it will really improve compared to the current generation Taycan, which is an interesting car, but really not a very special Porsche.
When we develop a new model, it's always about drivability and precision. It's a Porsche. It's in our DNA. But it's always about efficiency. And for the design," says Jörg Kerner, Vice President of the Macan product lines. One of the challenges was to maintain the product identity of the successful Macan model series, while at the same time meeting the aerodynamic requirements necessary to ensure high efficiency and thus high range. It was therefore important to ensure close cooperation between the two team leaders during the development phases in the design department and during aerodynamic testing in the modern Porsche wind tunnel. "Finding the optimal connection between our design principles and the specifications given to us by the aerodynamic engineers is certainly a challenge," says Peter Varga, Director of Exterior Design at Style Porsche. "We work together on every millimeter to achieve the optimal balance between aesthetics and function.”
The floor of the Porsche Macan EV is flat and closed like a racing car, even in the area of the rear axle. The linings there are flexible and also provide low drag on rebound – an innovative solution combined with flow-optimized, mostly closed wheels and aerodynamically optimized tire contours. When driving normally on a country road, the Macan automatically assumes its ideal shape. The rear spoiler moves to the eco position, the air flaps close and the chassis level is lowered. In this situation, Wiegand and his team measured drag coefficient 0.25 (previously 0.35). This makes the new Macan one of the most aerodynamic SUVs – with a huge impact on performance. Reaches after WLTP will be more than 500 km for all variants.
Electric motors in the new Macan they draw energy from a lithium-ion battery in the bottom, with a gross capacity of 100 kWh, of which it is actively usable up to 95 kWh. The 800-volt PPE architecture in the new Macan enables high-performance fast charging, which is tested worldwide as part of the development process.
“There are different filling standards in our main markets. The main focus of the testing was therefore to verify these different framework conditions in different locations with our prototypes and adapt the technology where necessary. Charging should simply work, anywhere and anytime," says Kerner. The DC charging capacity for the new Macan at 800-volt charging stations is up to 270 kW. The charge level can be increased from 10 to 80 percent in less than 22 minutes on 400-volt chargers, a high-voltage switch in the battery allows bank charging by effectively splitting the 800-volt battery into two batteries, each rated at 400 volts. This enables particularly efficient charging, without an additional HV booster, up to 150 kW. AC charging is possible with up to 11 kW. Which is not enough in the eyes of car enthusiasts, since the price for the installation of 22 kW is small and it is not a technical problem. Let's just look at Renault!
Besides electric versions Porsche will also introduce a new Macan with a regular petrol engine, which makes us sad in a way, because living in both worlds has never really produced exceptional products. Porsche Macan EV will serve as a bridge between the current generation and the coming electric age. Although this step is temporary, it shows Porsche's commitment to an electric future.
