Porsche lowers Macan entry price by $15K

Porsche Cars Australia has done what it said it wouldn't by announcing the release of a cheaper new four-cylinder version of its mid-size Macan SUV.

Long available in China and launched in North America in March, the new entry-level Macan will be priced at $76,610 plus on-road costs – $15,290 less than the $91,855 Macan S Diesel, which was first sold Down Under for $84,900 in June 2014.

When it arrives in local showrooms in the first quarter of 2017, the first four-cylinder Macan will lower the Porsche entry price to under $80,000, but isn't powered by the same 2.0- and 2.5-litre flat boxer four as seen in the Boxster and, soon, Cayman sports cars.

Instead, it comes with a Volkswagen Group-sourced 185kW/370Nm 2.0-litre inline four matched as standard with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission.

While that makes it slower than all other six-cylinder Macans, it's within half a second of the S Diesel when it comes to the 0-100km/h sprint (6.7 seconds, or 6.5 with the optional Sport Chrono-Package.

Meantime, top speed is within 1km/h at 229km/h, while fuel consumption is . The Macan also proves to be very efficient with fuel consumption is about a 1.0L/100km higher at 7.4.

Porsche says that – despite a still-hefty kerb weight of 1770kg, making it Porsche's lightest SUV yet – flexibility is assured with 370Nm of peak torque on tap over 1600-4500rpm.

Standard equipment continues to extend to Porsche Traction Management PTM active all-wheel drive, but an air suspension system with levelling control including PASM with adaptive dampers will be optional.

Visually, the new entry-level Macan differs from its more powerful brethren with the fitment of black side window trim strips and brake callipers, although it rides on the same 19-inch Macan Turbo wheels as the Macan S models.

Also standard are bi-xenon headlights with dynamic head light levelling, ParkAssist front and rear with reversing camera, Lane Departure Warning, Memory Package for the electric driver’s seat, Alcantara seat inserts, three-zone automatic climate control, Digital Radio, Tyre Pressure Monitoring and Porsche’s latest Porsche Communication Management (PCM) including navigation, mobile phone preparation, audio interfaces and voice control system.

So far this year Macan sales have accounted for almost half of all Porsche's Australian registrations, with just over 2000 sales.