Skip to main content

The 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo returns from sabbatical with new tricks

The Porsche Macan Turbo is making a triumphant return for the 2020 model year. The flagship variant of the company’s smallest SUV surfs the downsizing wave sweeping across the automotive industry without forgetting about its mission to deliver performance, and it benefits from the excellent infotainment technology already found in its tamer siblings.

The Turbo is the third member of the updated Macan range, after the base model and the mid-level Macan S. The electric, second-generation model won’t arrive until the early 2020s. The Turbo stands out from the cheaper, less powerful models with a model-specific front end characterized large air intakes, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a bigger roof-mounted spoiler. White brake calipers denote the presence of high-tech brakes designed to generate far less dust.

Related Videos

Step inside, and you’ll notice a 10.9-inch touchscreen replaces the 7.2-inch unit found in the previous Macan Turbo. The screen and the software packed inside it are identical to the technology offered in the existing Macan and Macan S variants, which is a good thing. Digital Trends tried Porsche’s operating system in 2018 and concluded it’s one of the better infotainment systems in the segment. It contains a wealth of information, but it’s surprisingly straight-forward to navigate. Apple CarPlay compatibility is available, but Porsche continues to resist Android Auto.

Befitting of its flagship status, the Macan Turbo comes standard with a 14-speaker, 665-watt sound system developed by Bose. It also offers a Wi-Fi hotspot, though motorists will need a data plan to use it, and all versions of the Macan are optionally available with a Qi wireless smartphone charger for the 2020 model year.

The Macan Turbo’s clamshell hood hides a twin-turbocharged, 2.9-liter V6 engine that delivers 434 horsepower between 5,700 and 6,600 rpm and 405 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 to 5,600 rpm. The six-cylinder is bolted to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission that transfers its power to the four wheels. Porsche quotes a 4.3-second sprint from zero to 60 mph, though the optional Sport Chrono package lowers that time to 4.1 seconds.

The 2020 Porsche Macan Turbo is on sale now across the United States, and pricing starts at $83,600 before a mandatory $1,350 destination charge elbows its way onto the invoice. The first deliveries are scheduled for late 2019.

Editors' Recommendations

CES 2023: BMW is going all-in on Android Auto Open Source – here’s why
A concept car at the BMW CES 2023 Keynote.

At CES 2023, BMW announced that its OS 9 platform, slated for release in 2023, will be the company’s first with an infotainment system entirely on the Android Auto Open Source (AAOS) platform. With the update, BMW will adopt a more map-centric approach and weave more third-party apps into its operating system.

BMW has been using Linux for the underpinnings of its iDrive interface, which gave the company complete control of its entire software stack. However, the move to AAOS represents a technological shift and an interface update for BMW. Like Android proper, AAOS encourages developers to create “skinned” versions of Android Auto for their vehicles.

Read more
Amazon Alexa aims to streamline the EV charging experience
Amazon Alexa lists EV charging station locations on a vehicle touchscreen.

While the number of EV charging stations continues to grow, finding a station and paying for charging can still be a hassle. But soon you'll be able to simply ask Alexa.

At CES 2023, Amazon announced Alexa-enabled charging services that will let EV drivers find a charging station via Alexa, as well as pay for charging at certain stations when they become available to drivers in the U.S. later in 2023. You'll need a car with Alexa integration or an accessory like one of Amazon's Echo Auto devices, however.

Read more
VW previews its next electric car in trippy camouflaged form
Front three quarter view of a camouflaged Volkswagen ID.7 prototype.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is VW's next electric car, and while it won't be fully revealed until later in the year, the automaker provided a sneak peek at CES 2023.

VW said the production ID.7, which will be revealed in the second quarter of this year, will be influenced by the ID.Aero concept first shown in China in 2022. The camouflaged prototype VW brought to CES has the same general shape as the ID.Aero. It's a streamlined sedan that VW claims will have up to 435 miles of range as measured on the somewhat lenient European WLTP testing cycle.

Read more