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The Macan gets a turbo four and becomes Porsche’s most affordable model

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.

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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.

Ronan Glon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
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