This is our best look yet at the electric SUV sister to Audi’s Q6 e-tron
https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/
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by Chris Chilton
5 hours ago
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Audi has already revealed a virtually showroom-ready Q6 e-tron, so it stands to reason that Porsche’s version of that same electric SUV, the Macan EV, won’t wait too long before making its own debut.
We’re not quite there yet, though you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise looking at these shots of a prototype Macan out on test. Okay, so the image quality isn’t up there with the perfectly-lit suite of retouched pictures Porsche is busy preparing for the official reveal, but they show the EV wearing almost no disguise, allowing us to get our best look yet at the compact SUV.
There are still a couple of bits of tape here and there, but the fake tailpipes and rear quarter window misdirection have gone and we can clearly make out the EV’s full front end, including the split headlamp arrangement and double-deck grille/intake treatment. Unlike the current Macan, whose clamshell hood has long been a visual trademark, the EV version has a conventional hood and fenders, and much slimmer, more angular headlamp pods.
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The doors – still featuring conventional pull handles, note – have a different shape as they roll inwards towards the sill, giving the Macan more of a pinched waist this time, but overall it’s surprising how similar the EV and ICE models look given that they built around entirely different platforms and the basic design of the Macan is approaching its 10th birthday. It’s a testament to how right Porsche got the Macan all those years ago.
Related: Porsche Considers Keeping The ICE-Powered Macan Alive For Longer
Porsche is at pains to point out that the EV isn’t a replacement for the combustion-powered Macan. The two models will live side by side for a few years, Porsche recognizing that not all of its customers are ready to make the switch. The automaker is concerned about the quality of the EV infrastructure in North America and reportedly told US dealers it will review its decision on ditching the combustion-engined Macan in 2025 or 2026, based on the sales volume over the next two years.
But when customers find out how much muscle the EV is packing they might find it hard to resist leaving gas pumps behind. Though we’re still waiting to learn the full powertrain lineup, we do know that cars built around the PPE electric platform will have a maximum output of 603 hp (450 kW / 612 PS) and 737+ lb-ft (1,000+ Nm) of torque. The most powerful version of the combustion Porsche Macan currently available, the GTS, only makes 434 hp (440 PS), and even accounting for its lighter curb weight it’s inevitably going to get smoked in a straight line.
No exact timeline has been confirmed regarding the Macan EV’s debut but we anticipate to see it within the next few months, with sales following in 2024.
