Porsche’s Second EV Has Arrived with Power, Performance, and Class

• After selling over 800,000 Macans in its 10-year run, Porsche wants to reach another group of buyers: EV hopefuls.

• With as much as 603 hp and 833 lb-ft of torque, Porsche is serious about making the Macan EV a true sporting crossover.

• Available by summer 2024, the Macan EV will come in two trim levels, ranging in price from $80,450 to $106,950.

It sounds hard to believe, but Porsche's compact, sporting crossover has been available for 10 years now. Launched in 2014, following in the footsteps of the Cayenne was a daunting task, but the Macan has done so dutifully.

With superb dynamic behavior and an up-to-par interior, the Macan is not just another Porsche crossover, but rather the entryway to the brand for many buyers. Starting at $62,550 last year, the Macan is a semi-affordable (relatively, of course) way to get into a Porsche for many brand-interested buyers.

Now Porsche is invested in a new group of prospective customers, as it launches the new Macan EV. Having electrically experimented with the Taycan, Porsche is ready to expand its electric reach, and doing so with the Macan only makes sense. Plus, everything good about the Macan will likely benefit from the addition of quieter, more available power.

Officially split into two trim levels, Porsche will offer an entry-level Macan 4 and a performance-oriented Macan Turbo for 2024. Both versions are based on the same 100-kWh battery and an 800-volt architecture, though power figures between the two differ greatly.

The more subdued Macan 4 will put down 402 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque while the Macan Turbo makes good on Porsche's earlier claim of 603 hp and 833 lb-ft of torque. That's a whole lot of power, allowing the Macan Turbo to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and achieve a top speed of 161 mph.

Sharing the Premium Platform Electric with other Volkswagen-owned manufacturers, Porsche has taken strides to make the Macan EV its own. For starters, DC fast charging is available at speeds up to 270 kW, with a claimed 10% to 80% charge time of 21 minutes. Due to its 800-volt makeup, Porsche has also devised a specific formula to maximize charging sessions.

"At 400-volt charging stations, a high-voltage switch in the battery enables bank charging by effectively splitting the 800-volt battery into two batteries, each with a nominal voltage of 400 volts," the release reads. "This enables particularly efficient charging without an additional high-voltage booster, at up to 135 kW."

Energy can also be recuperated through regenerative braking, with Porsche citing up to 240 kW of energy recuperation. Other important charging features on the Macan EV include an onboard AC charger, a high-voltage heater, and the DC/DC converter.

Porsche has previously claimed a targeted range of 300 miles for the Macan EV, though the company says it will release EPA range figures closer to the start of deliveries. Europe's WLTP range estimates are calculated as notoriously optimistic, indicating that earlier rumors of 311 miles of all-electric range may not be accurate for US customers.

Power and range figures aside, the Macan EV is still a Porsche, meaning superb handling characteristics are essential. As such, Porsche specifically focused on masking the increased weight of the Macan EV, starting with an optional rear-steering package. That allows for a maximum angle of five degrees, with a compact turning circle of 36.4 feet.

All-wheel drive is standard on both the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo, thanks to two electric motors mounted front and rear. Because the AWD system is electrically activated, Porsche has installed a system it calls electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management, which acts to detect and defeat wheel slip five times faster than its traditional AWD systems.

Torque vectoring is also available through an electronically locking rear differential, while the AWD system is tuned depending on the drive mode selected. Damping all this drivetrain weight is standard air suspension plus Porsche Active Suspension Management on both trim levels, with two valve dampers and an expanded damping map.

We talked about the design philosophy of the new Macan EV earlier this week, but now the numbers are out. Coming in at 188.4 inches long, 84.7 inches wide (with mirrors), and 63.8 inches high, the Macan EV is a few inches longer and quite a bit wider (nearly 9 inches) than the previous model year Macan.

Similarly, the Macan EV increases the wheelbase by 3.4 inches compared to the previous model. However, Porsche says it compensated for this increase in size with short overhangs on both sides. Plus, you can option wheels as large as 22 inches in a staggered setup.

Making the Macan EV unique and quintessentially Porsche was a design process focused on aerodynamics. With active aerodynamics and a more streamlined design, Porsche says the Macan EV will have a drag coefficient of 0.25. That's pretty slick, beating out 911s with an adaptive rear spoiler and a fully undersealed body.

Inside the new Macan EV, prospective buyers will find a familiar environment with a few key features. Namely, Porsche has installed a free-standing 12.6-inch, curved instrument cluster and a 10.9-inch central display, further emphasizing its driver-focused design. Augmented reality will also be integrated into the head-up display, offering turn-by-turn navigation arrows ahead of the driver.

The use of an electric powertrain has also altered the space available in the new Macan's cabin. Trunk capacity is up to 18 cubic feet with the back seats in use, though a total of 46.5 cubic feet is available with the rear bench folded. Front passengers sit 1.1 inches lower while rear passengers get 0.6 inches of additional seat depth plus increased legroom.

Porsche has yet to provide a curb weight for the Macan EV, though we suspect it will be around 5000 pounds. Even so, the Macan EV is rated to tow up to 4409 pounds. Just don't expect those preliminary range figures to hold up if you do end up towing.

Set for production at Porsche's facility in Leipzig, pricing for the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo will be set at $80,450 and $106,950, including $1650 destination. Order books are open now, though deliveries won't start until the second half of the year.

Are there any ICE cars that you think would greatly benefit from electrification? Which cars and why? Please share your thoughts below.