New 2019 Porsche Macan surfaces

The Porsche name may be synonymous with the 911 sports car but its best-selling model is the Macan medium SUV – and there’s a new model about to launch.

Expected to revealed in full very soon, ahead of its global launch at the end of July in China, the new 2019 Porsche Macan can be seen here being punished at high altitudes in Lethoso, South Africa.

Already considered one of the most dynamic SUVs in its class, the new Porsche Macan is being calibrated to deliver improved off-road capabilities, the high altitude testing taking the vehicle up to 3400 metres – that’s more than 11,000 feet above sea level.

The 2019 Porsche Macan was subjected to a range of different terrain, including “rough asphalt, dusty gravel roads and hostile mountain passages,” says Porsche. Upgrades to the suspension and brakes are understood to be on the cards and there may be a few new tech features in the offing too.

The five-door Porsche Macan SUV is priced from around $76,000 in Australia with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (185kW/370Nm) and tops out at around $147,000 for the Macan Turbo w/Performance Package running a 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol powerplant (324kW/600Nm).

All engines are expected to be carried over, which includes the 3.0-litre turbo-petrol (265kW/500Nm) and 3.0-litre turbo-diesel (190kW/580Nm) engines, which could may be fettled to deliver power and torque increases and certainly fuel economy improvements.

These photos also confirm that minor changes will be made to the SUV’s exterior design, with updated headlights and brake lights.

The interior of the 2019 Porsche Macan will take on fresh image with new trim levels expected along with redesigned dashboard elements and the latest touchscreen infotainment system from parent company Volksagen Group.

The 2019 Porsche Macan is tipped to arrive in Australian showrooms in 2019.

In Australia Porsche Macan sales were up 14 per cent in 2017, its 2478 sales more than doubling those of the next best-selling Porsche, the Cayenne. Globally the Macan sold almost 100,000 units in 2017 and since its launch in 2014 it’s notched up an impressive 350,000 sales worldwide.

The Porsche Macan's main competitors are from Germany, such as the BMW X4, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, while new rivals are charging in from Italy, such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Maserati’s new medium SUV, which is coming next year.