Porsche has announced plans to expand the Macan lineup with a new entry-level model powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The base Macan made its public debut at the 2016 New York Auto Show.
The turbo four in question is a direct-injected 2.0-liter unit that has been tuned to generate 252 horsepower from 5,000 to 6,800 rpm and 273 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 and 4,500 rpm. The only transmission available is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The four sends the Macan from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds — nearly a full second slower than the 340-horsepower Macan S, the next model up in the Macan hierarchy — when it’s equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package, and on to a top speed of 142 mph. Porsche hasn’t revealed how fast the Macan gets up to 60 when it’s not equipped with the Sport Chrono package.
A start/stop system is standard to keep fuel mileage in check. The Macan returns 25 mpg on the highway, 20 mpg in the city, and 22 mpg in a mixed cycle. Porsche points out the base model is 18 percent more efficient than the more powerful Macan S.
In spite of its entry-level positioning, the Macan comes relatively well equipped, with features such as Bi-Xenon headlights, eight-way power-adjustable front seats that are partially upholstered with Alcantara, piano black trim on the door panels and the dashboard, as well as a lane departure warning system. Additionally, the Macan ships with the latest generation of Porsche’s touch screen-based Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system.
The 2017 Porsche Macan is on sale now across the country with a base price of $47,500 before a mandatory $1,050 destination charge is factored in. To put that figure into perspective, the Macan S starts at $54,400. That makes the base Macan the only Porsche priced under $50,000, and the most affordable member of the German firm’s lineup in the United States.
