Porsche Macan from $84,900

Porsche's Macan compact SUV is more than $15,000 cheaper than the German sports car company's previous price leader, the Cayenne ($100,200).

According to the prestige importer, the new model, priced from just under $85,000, will appeal to a much wider buyer demographic not only due to its compact size and dynamic performance, but also the tight pricing.

Arriving in Porsche Centres nationwide from late June 2014, the dynamic SUV will target premium vehicles such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, and is offered exclusively with turbocharged six-cylinder engines. Pricing (not including on-road costs) is as follows:

Macan S Diesel $84,900
Macan S $87,200
Macan Turbo $122,900

The Porsche Macan was launched at the LA motor show last month, and the German car maker expects that supply would be tight globally, not just in Australia, with only 50,000 of the small but fiery SUVs to be built annually.

Porsche Australia told motoring.com.au it already has an encouraging amount of Macans on order in Australia, and insists that much of the early interest in the vehicle is from first time Porsche buyers.

Entry-level Macan S Diesel ($84,900) models are powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that generates 190kW/580Nm. It sprints from 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds and has a claimed fuel consumption of 6.3L/100km.

The mid-grade Macan S ($87,200) is propelled by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine that bangs out 250kW/460Nm and dispatches the 0-100km/h dash in just 5.4 seconds. Expected fuel usage is 9.0L/100km.

At the top end of town is the Macan Turbo ($122,900) model, driven by a larger 3.6-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 that is good for 294kW/550Nm and a fuel consumption figure of 9.4L/100km. It rockets from  0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.

All models can be equipped with an optional Sports Chrono Package that reduces the 0-100km/h by 0.2 seconds.

Porsche has not released detailed specifications for local models yet, but confirmed that all variants will be equipped as standard with seven-speed PDK auto transmissions, all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management and "unique suspension and brakes to give a level of handling and performance expected of a true Porsche".

More affordable four-cylinder versions of the Porsche Macan are planned and could be offered for below $80,000, but have been put on the back-burner for now, as the company concentrates on more profitable six-cylinder models.

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