SPY PICS: Porsche Macan GTS

Porsche has made no secret of its intention to release further variants of its all-new Macan, which arrives in Australia from late June in three model grades: the S Diesel ($84,900), S ($87,200) and Turbo ($122,900).

In fact, Porsche's Chairman of the Executive Board, Matthias Müller, confirmed at the global launch in February that performance-focussed GTS and flagship Turbo S versions of the all-new mid-size SUV would be forthcoming, but ruled out cheaper four-cylinder petrol or diesel models for the foreseeable future. 

Motoring.com.au understands a four-cylinder turbo-petrol variant may become available in some markets with CO2-based taxes, but the Macan will remain V6-only and therefore $80,000-plus in Australia.

Now, if these first spy shots are any guide, it appears the GTS will be the next cab off the Macan rank.

While the base Macan S Diesel’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 produces 190kW/580Nm, the Macan GTS – like its Cayenne, Panamera, 911 and upcoming Boxster and Cayman namesakes – is likely to offer more performance than the S version.

Given the 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 in the Macan S delivers 250kW/460Nm and the Macan Turbo’s larger 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 cranks out 294kW/550Nm (see our full tech story here, expect the Macan GTS to offer up about 275kW.

That should see it sprint to 100km/h in about five seconds – making it slightly slower than the Turbo (4.6 seconds with optional Sports Chrono Package) but quicker than the Macan S (5.2 seconds).

But like its GTS stablemates, the newest Macan won’t focus on straight-line speed.

Likely to be priced around $100,000 – about where its larger Cayenne sibling starts – the GTS will come with firmer suspension, a larger wheel/tyre package up to 21-inch (both the S and S Diesel come standard with 18s; the Turbo with 19s) and, as these images show, beefier brakes including big red six-piston front calipers.

In Porsche GTS tradition, the handling-focussed Macan also scores more aggressive bumpers with bigger front air intakes and more prominent rear exhaust outlets, and a cabin featuring sports bucket seats, a sportier steering wheel with fewer functions and a range of Alcantara fake-suede highlights.

Although all that will make Audi’s sub-$90,000 S Q5 super-diesel its closest rival, the most sporting Macan will attempt to further distance itself from the (next-generation) Q5 upon which it’s based.

That said, while both models are fitted exclusively with all-wheel drive and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions, for now the Macan employs only longitudinally mounted V6 engines and is primarily rear-wheel driven – unlike the transverse-engined, primarily front-driven Q5.

As we’ve reported, the Macan is likely to become Porche’s best-selling model in Australia -- if not globally -- despite the fact it plans to build only 50,000 examples a year in Germany.