Budget relief! Porsche planning more affordable Macan EV … but it will still cost heaps
If you’ve been a bit gobsmacked by the rise in price of the new Porsche Macan EV compared to its ICE predecessor, we’ve got a good news/bad news story for you.
The good news is there is a cheaper entry-level variant of the new Macan on the way. The bad news? It’s still going to be plenty more expensive than the current Macan’s starting price.
There are only two dual motor models in the Macan EV range that launches in Australia later this year – the $133,700 Macan 4 and the $180,100 Macan Turbo. All pricing is plus on-road costs.
READ MORE: Porsche Mission X: A deep dive inside the first mid-motored EV with the guy who created it
READ MORE: Porsche Taycan GT: We warned you it was gonna be crazy … and it is!
READ MORE: Game-changer! 2024 Porsche Macan EV delivers 911-beating acceleration and epic driving range
That compares to the old four-model Macan ICE’s pricing that started from $93,800 and topped out at $141,700 plus on-road costs.
That means the entry point has risen $39,900.
That gap will narrow but not close with the introduction of a single motor rear-wheel drive Macan EV sometime in the not too distant future. A price around $115,000 before on-road costs is tipped.
“At the moment these two [launch model variants are the focus], but in the future I think we will get other models,” said Macan product line vice-president Jörg Kerner at the international media launch for the five-seat SUV.
When asked specifically about a single-motor, rear-wheel drive version of the new Macan EV – something that would create the first two-wheel drive version of Porsche’s most affordable model – he said: “it’s possible”.
In other words, it’s essentially a done deal.
Porsche is also expected to unleash a battery-powered Macan GTS, which as with other GTS models from the brand would sharpen the dynamics and add more punch while slotting below the Turbo in terms of price and outright thrust.
FYI the Turbo offers 470kW/1130Nm maximum and 0-100km/h acceleration in a claimed 3.3sec.
The Macan 4 makes 285kW and 650Nm, stepping up to 300kW when the overboost function is activated for launch control. It accelerates to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds.
Despite the steep price rises, Porsche is forecasting higher sales for the Macan EV than its ICE predecessor.
Production of petrol Macans for Australia will end in the third quarter of this year but continues for other markets until 2026. Order books will close here in May.
Meanwhile, Kerner insisted Porsche was not focussed on dominant EV-maker Tesla and its spectacular performance claims.
“It’s not the right way to look all the time at other competitors,” said Kerner.
“You need a strategy of your own, you make a target of your own… and don’t look always left or right… because the result wouldn’t be the best.
“For us it’s very important that what we develop cars customers buy,” says Kerner. “I develop cars for customers and not for other competitors.”
Watch out for our first drive review of Porsche Macan EV coming soon.
