Porsche Macan spec details in full

Porsche’s all-new Macan softroader promises to be hot property when it arrives Down Under thanks to realistic pricing and combination of Porsche dynamics, advanced equipment and compact, but practical packaging.

As motoring.com.au has reported previously, the Macan will be sold initially in three levels of trim: Macan S, Macan S diesel and Macan Turbo. Both the diesel and Macan S are powered by 3.0-litre V6 engines, the diesel an under-square design built around a grey cast-iron block developing 190kW and 580Nm. Fuel consumption for the diesel ranges from 6.1 to 6.3L/100km in the NEDC combined-cycle test, and CO2 emissions vary from 159 to 164g/km in the same test.

All three engines are Euro 6-compliant with the two petrol engines featuring aluminium blocks and short-stroke (oversquare) configuration. Peak power and torque figures are 250kW/460Nm (3.0-litre petrol V6 for Macan S) and 294kW/550Nm for the 3.6-litre engine under the bonnet of the Macan Turbo. Fuel consumption figures are 8.7 to 9.0L/100km for Macan S, and 8.9 to 9.2L/100km for the Macan Turbo. CO2 emissions figures are 204 to 212g/km (Macan S) or 208 to 216g/km (Macan Turbo).

The three variants come with a fuel-saving auto-stop/start system that will cut the engine power once the speed drops to 2km/h, even if the car is only travelling that slowly (or has been brought to a halt) by the adaptive cruise control. As soon as the car in front moves off, the system will restart the engine and the adaptive cruise will allow the Macan to accelerate up to a safe speed behind the vehicle ahead or up to the driver's preferred preset cruising speed in the absence of traffic in front.

Other means of conserving fuel include a coasting function, when the PDK shifts into neutral while the vehicle is on the move, but the driver has lifted his or her foot off the accelerator.

Thermal engine management, while the engine is warming up to operating temperature, and electrical energy recuperation (during braking and on the overrun) are two other measures aimed at lowering fuel use.

The engines are mounted north/south (longitudinally) and are partnered with standard seven-speed dual-clutch (PDK) transmissions. Transmission ratios are the same for the two petrol engines, but third gear and higher ratios in the diesel's transmission are longer to take advantage of the diesel's lower torque peak for reduced fuel consumption.

Final drive ratios for the Macan Turbo and the diesel variant are the same, but the petrol Macan S has higher ratios (3.88:1 front, 4.40:1 rear for the Macan S, 4.13:1 front, 4.67:1 rear for the other two variants).

Since each engine is mounted longitudinally, Porsche has opted to run the drive to the rear wheels by default. A multi-plate clutch can direct torque to the front wheels if the Macan's traction control and stability systems recognise slip at the rear. According to Porsche, as much as 100 per cent of torque can be fed through to the front wheels, but the rear wheels are never decoupled.

The Macan is equipped with 18-inch alloys for the S and Diesel variants, or 19-inch wheels for the Turbo. Porsche offers a range of wheel options up to 21 inches in diameter.

Tyres at the front are narrower than at the rear, across all three variants, with 235/60 for the front and 255/55 for the rear of the 3.0-litre models, or 235/55 (front) and 255/50 (rear) for the Turbo. Porsche claims the mix of tyres, front to rear, improves the Macan's steering and rear-end stability. Tyre Pressure Monitoring is standard for all models.

Macan's steering is of the electro-mechanical type, which Porsche says can save up to 0.1 litres of fuel for every 100km travelled.

Brakes are ventilated discs all round, with the option of ceramic brakes also available. In standard form the brakes comprise six-piston callipers and 350x34mm rotors at the front, or floating callipers and 330x22mm rotors at the rear (Macan S/Diesel). The Macan Turbo's rotors measure 360x36mm (front) and 356x238mm (rear). All variants come with an electric parking brake.

Active safety features on board the Macan include traction control (PTM), stability control (PSM), and an automatic brake differential, with the Macan also available optionally with brake-actuated torque vectoring (PTV) for improved cornering, and lane change assist. Porsche Active Safe detects traffic ahead and takes action to avoid a nose-to-tail collision if the driver doesn't respond, or doesn't brake hard enough. A radar-based system, it operates even when adaptive cruise control has been disabled.

Lighting systems comprise LED daytime running lights, projector-beam halogen headlights (or standard bi-xenon headlights for the Macan Turbo), static and dynamic cornering lights, and an intelligent high-beam facility – bundled in Porsche's Dynamic Light System (PDLS Plus). Tail lights feature LED technology.

A button in the centre console provides the driver with the option of 'off-road mode' at speeds up to 80km/h. This button lowers the shift points for the PDK transmission, changes the throttle response and ‘pre-tensions’ the clutch for the all-wheel drive system.

For vehicles fitted with air suspension, the off-road mode also raises the ride height to its full extent – 230mm, or 40mm higher than the normal setting. Another button in the console activates Porsche Hill Control for negotiating steep inclines. Speeds can be adjusted between a range of 3 and 30km/h.

Left of the gear lever is a Sport button, which leads to a livelier throttle response, higher rev limit, and different shift points plus more aggressive changes for the PDK transmission. Porsche will offer Macan buyers a Sport Chrono option pack for even higher performance, which offers 'Sport Plus' selection and Launch Control, which will knock 0.2 seconds off the 0-100km/h acceleration times for each respective variant.

Off road, the Macan can climb grades with approach and departure angles of 24.8 and 23.6 degrees, respectively, with a ramp-over angle of 17.1 degrees. But vehicles with air suspension can better those figures (19 degrees for ramp-over, 26.6 degrees on the approach and 25.3 degrees departure).

All Macan variants ride on a sophisticated five-link double-wishbone-type system at the front and a trapezoidal double-wishbone set-up at the rear. Porsche has specified three chassis types for the Macan: steel-sprung system for the Macan S/Diesel, steel-sprung system with active suspension for the Macan Turbo (and optional for the other variants), and the option of air suspension.

The active suspension provides different levels of damping to suit changing driving environments and styles. While the system operates automatically, three options can be manually selected: 'Comfort', 'Sport' and 'Sport Plus'.

In addition to the extra 40mm of ground clearance provided by the air suspension on is maximum height setting, the air-equipped Macan rides 15mm lower than the steel-sprung models when operating in Normal mode. With Sport Plus mode selected, the Macan sits a further 10mm lower. And for easier loading, the air suspension can be lowered at the rear by 50mm below the normal ride height.

Complementing the Macan's active safety features are a host of passive safety items; among them Multi-Collision Brake, which ensures brakes remain locked on after an airbag has deployed, so as to minimise impact severity with other vehicles after the primary collision.

Measuring 4681mm in length and 1923mm in width, the Macan boasts a 2807mm wheelbase and can accommodate 500 litres of luggage, rising to 1500 litres with the rear seat folded down. T

he Macan's body in white is reinforced with super-high-strength steel and the bonnet and tailgate are aluminium. Air bags deploy from the front (for driver and front passenger), from the sides and from side-impact curtains. Buyers wanting additional side-impact protection for rear-seat occupants may order those airbags as an option. Acceleration and yaw rate sensors anticipate a roll and deploy curtain airbags and seat-belt pretensioners.

Interior features will run to a panoramic sunroof, a multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles, electric seat adjustment (18-way adjustment with memory for Macan Turbo with adaptive sports seats), triple-split (40:20:40) folding rear seat, dual-zone climate control (with a three zone system an option), seven-inch infotainment touch screen and an 11-speaker audio with USB porting. Macan Turbo adds to that with a 40gb hard drive for the standard navigation system.

Macan buyers can specify two different audio system options – a Bose 14-speaker unit or a Burmester 16-speaker unit.

Porsche Car Connect is another option for the Macan, allowing owners to run functions for the car through either an Android or Apple smartphone. It's just one of myriad options the importer can sell to buyers, including tinted headlights, interior packages, a sports exhaust system and interior colours coordinated with the exterior – to say nothing of the wheel and tyre packages, bi-xenon lights and other extra-cost options mentioned already.

motoring.com.au will bring our first international drive impressions of the new Macan in the days to come. Keep an eye out for more...

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