I drove the Porsche Macan Electric – it’s heroically fast, spacious and will easily top 300 miles on one charge
THERE’S a special set of ingredients that make a Porsche a Porsche.
It’s got to be the best of its type.
It’s got to be the best driving car its type.
Basically, it’s got to make your neck has all tingly whether it’s doing 0 mph or 200 mph.
The latest creation from Porsche’s dream factory is the Macan Electric.
Not an electric version of the Macan. The new Macan. The old shape petrol Macan will continue alongside the new-shape EV until next year.
Then every Macan will come with a plug. It’s a risk.
Switching a best seller to pure electric so early.
Range Rover is chuffed.
Bosses think current Macan owners not ready for the brave new world will look their way instead.
Some might. But many won’t.
Because the new Macan is, in many ways, the old Macan but better.
Smoother and more sophisticated with clever aero to add range.
More spacious. The boot is bigger, plus there’s a trunk (full trunk for the charging cable).
You sit lower in the new Macan. We like that. All the controls are familiar.
The cockpit is beautifully appointed and has the right blend of buttons and turbocharged screens.
There’s a huge centre console for drinks and bits and bobs.
LED strips in the doors glow, up to warn you there’s something in your blindspot.
On the road, this car is everything you want from a Porsche.
Just with the sound turned on.
Everything synchronised. Everything precise.
Historically fast when you wanted it to be. Easy to live with when you don’t.
Key facts
PORSCHE MACAN
Price: £68,500
Battery: 95kWh
Power: 360hp
0-62mph: 5.7 secs
Top speed: 137mph
Range: 399 miles
Charging to 80%: 21 mins
CO2: 0g/km
Out: Now
The standard account is 360hp rear wheel drive.
The other versions are 4WD with the range topping Macan Turbo (without an actual turbo of course) producing 639HP and an unholy 1,130Nm of torque.
I might have accidentally activated launch control at Silverstone the other day.
Fast AF. The brakes are equally as impressive.
The grip is immense. The turbo has a suspension as standard and the option of all wheel steering.
But you’re nudging £100K
As for charging, Porsche cleans up here too. All versions come with a 95 kWh battery that can use up to 80% in just 21 minutes.
A quick tea-and-pee break.
In a world that only ever moves at 20mph, you should easily top 300 miles before recharging.
So, that’s the new Porsche Macan.
The best best driving car it’s kind.
- Next up Porsche will rewire Cayman and Boxster as electric sports cars. The fourth-gen Cayenne will be pure electric but sold alongside today’s Cayenne hybrid and plug-in-hybrid. Plus, there’s, a new electric SUV in the pipeline.