Ken Gratton•17 Feb 2014
NEWS
No four-pot Macan for Oz
Local Porsche spokesman rules out anything less than V6 powerPorsche is understood to be working on a four-cylinder petrol variant for its Macan range, but don't expect to see it in Australia.
The four-pot Macan is reportedly being developed for China and other markets where taxation heavily favours smaller displacement vehicles.
Matthias Müller, Porsche's Chairman of the Executive Board, was cagey when asked during a Q&A session last week about the prospect of a four-cylinder variant for the range, despite previous advice from fellow Porsche exec Wolfgang Hatz that there was a four-cylinder Macan in the wings.
"Our target was to have a high position for the car..." he said, through an interpreter.
"Our intention was to position the vehicle above the Q5, according to our brand's positioning within the group of companies, and introduce the vehicle top-down, so to speak.
"Our production capacities will be used fully for the foreseeable time with these three engines we launch now. If there should be necessity cropping up to launch further engines to the market in order to use the capacity, then we will be able to do that. But for the time being we are happy with these three engines and we will certainly maintain this set-up for the foreseeable future."
A source from within Porsche told motoring.com.au that there certainly was a four-cylinder petrol Macan being developed for "certain markets", and it will likely reach those markets well within three years from now.
The situation is even muddier for other rumoured derivatives upmarket of the current range. When asked whether consumers and the media could "expect" to see GTS or Turbo S variants of the Macan, Müller laughed and said – in English – "You can."
The laughter hints at Müller's underlying meaning and unspoken qualification: "you can expect them as much as you like, but it doesn't mean they'll happen."
Conversely, of course, it doesn't necessarily mean the performance variants are ruled out.
Porsche's local spokesman, Paul Ellis, was a little easier to read on the subject of the four-cylinder Macan. Actually, he was a lot easier to read.
"There's no plan for Macan – in our market – less than six-cylinder," he told motoring.com.au during an interview later the same day.
It's a strategy driven by demand rather than merely protecting the Porsche brand in Australia, Ellis remarked.
"There's no demand for [a four-cylinder Macan in Australia]," he said. "And there's plenty of demand for the six-cylinder models. Stick to what you got. No need to make things too complicated for yourself."
As an intellectual exercise Ellis was willing to entertain the idea of a hybrid model for the Macan range, possibly using the same V6 set up as the Cayenne.
"Wouldn't be surprised," he said, "but that's not confirmation."
In the event that Porsche's Leipzig factory added a shift to meet global demand for the Macan, would Porsche Cars Australia introduce the four-cylinder engine – for those buyers finding the sixes a stretch financially?
"Let's understand something – there's an element of exclusivity about the Porsche brand, so you don't always necessarily buy on price," Ellis offered. "You buy because you really aspire to that brand. We're not in the business of selling mainstream [cars]..."
Mercedes-Benz has shown a willingness to head downmarket for added sales volume from the new A-Class model though. The Porsche exec's response was straight to the point.
"We're not in that game."
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Written byKen Gratton
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