Yahoo Autos 2024 Porsche Macan Electric Preview: Next-gen in every possible way
The 2024 Porsche Macan will be all-new and all-electric … except when it’s neither of those things. What now? You see, the next-generation Macan will in fact be all-electric, based on Porsche’s new “PPE” electric vehicle platform. However, Porsche will continue to sell the gas-powered, first-generation model alongside it in dealerships for as long as the market demands it. In short, there will be two 2024 Macans and possibly two 2025s, two 2026s and so on.
Although we’ve only driven camouflaged examples of the 2024 Macan Electric (as it will be known to differentiate it from the surviving first-generation models), it’s easy to see that it looks about as different as two generations of a Porsche can look. Its front end is much lower to the ground (presumably for aero), with a much smaller grille opening filled with active aero flaps that are also closer to the ground. The result is a rather tall and blunt face that’s vaguely Tesla-ish, albeit with headlight units clearly inspired by the Taycan. The rear is even more coupe-like than before, echoing the Cayenne Coupe model and, well, the 911. Like those two Porsches, the Macan Electric gets a spoiler that automatically deploys depending on speed and other factors, such as when the sunroof is open (the Panamera’s does this, too).
The Macan Electric model lineup will be comparable to the Taycan’s with base, 4S and Turbo models to start (one would imagine a Turbo S and GTS will eventually be part of the equation). As such, the base Macan Electric will have a single motor at the rear, while the 4S and Turbo will have motors on both axles and therefore more power. A key difference between the Macan Electric and Taycan will be that there will only be one battery shared throughout the Macan lineup. Range will differ by motors/models. Porsche did not have EPA range estimates at the time of our drive, but claims a greater than 310-mile range for the Turbo on the optimistic WLTP cycle. Anecdotally, a Turbo test vehicle we drove showed 150 miles of range left with a half charge. The Taycan has shown to greatly exceed its official EPA range estimates, but don’t be surprised if the Macan’s eventual estimates are less than the 300 or so we saw.
We dive deeper into everything we know about the 2024 Porsche Macan Electric below, including what we could glean from the interior and our extensive test drive through the Santa Monica Mountains. In short, though, the Macan Electric is yet another promising EV, but we wonder if some of the Macan’s driving magic has been lost.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Electric Range
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels
What are the Macan Electric interior and in-car technology like?
We didn’t get a complete look at the Macan Electric interior during our prototype drive, but what we did see is in keeping with what's shown in spy photos shown above from two-plus years ago. There are very obviously lots of elements shared with the recently introduced 2024 Porsche Cayenne. There are the new, simplified climate controls on the center console, the same cowl-less all-digital instrument screen (with questionably useful layout options), the same 12.3-inch touchscreen, and the toggle shifter placed between the two screens on the dash.
The dash itself is lower than the Cayenne’s, and a prominent ledge spans from wheel to passenger door that creates a more attractive tiered appearance. Said ledge also provides a useful place to rest your hand while operating the touchscreen. The console itself is more of a floating concept, complete with extra storage and down-low cupholders. This would be the benefit of not having a transmission and driveline tunnel below.
Apart from the switchgear shared with the Cayenne, materials quality wasn’t finalized in our prototype test vehicles. We can report, however, that Porsche will offer interesting hues inside, including a handsome purple.
How big is the Macan Electric?
We did not know dimensions at the time of this writing, but judging by our time in the cabin, it’s unlikely that the Macan Electric is appreciably bigger in terms of passenger or cargo space than the gas-only first-generation. Given the more raked roofline, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that cargo space is less than the surviving first-generation model.
We would expect more than one front seat option, with all possessing ample adjustability range. We had no problem getting comfortable and enjoyed plenty of leg- and headroom up front during our day-long drive in various Macan Electric prototypes.
