Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Porsche turns up the heat with new Macan Turbo Performance Package

Add as a preferred source on Google

When it comes to SUVs, optional equipment tends to lean toward practical items like roof racks, or rear-seat entertainment systems to pacify kids.

Porsche does things a little differently, though. The German carmaker is rolling out a new Performance Package for the Macan Turbo, which is already the sportiest model in the Macan lineup. The package offers a host of performance upgrades aimed at the engine, suspension, and brakes. That should make trips to the supermarket a lot more interesting.

Recommended Videos

To start, the 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 gets a boost to 440 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Those are increases of 40 hp and 36 lb-ft. over the non-Performance Package Macan Turbo. With the package, Porsche says its small SUV will now do 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, and reach a top speed of 169 mph. That’s a reduction of 0.2 second and an increase of 5 mph, respectively, over the regular Macan Turbo, according to Porsche.

Read more: Mercedes-Benz GLC43 AMG Coupe revealed

The Performance Package also includes upgraded brakes with larger front rotors, and a re-tuned version of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive suspension system, including a ride height lowered by 10 millimeters. A sport exhaust system provides a more dramatic sound, says Porsche, while the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission was tweaked to enable shorter shift times. As with other versions of the Macan Turbo, all-wheel drive is standard.

Visually, Performance Package models are distinguished by 21-inch wheels “911 Turbo Design” wheels, LED headlights, and blacked-out trim. On the inside, the Performance Package adds black leather upholstery with Alcantara, color appliqué trim, and some carbon fiber trim pieces.

The Performance Package is available to order now, and with it the Macan Turbo’s base price swells to $87,495 (including destination). That’s just over $10,000 more than the base price of a Macan Turbo without the package. Performance doesn’t come cheap, apparently.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
China’s latest tiny EV costs just $6,735 and somehow squeezes in five doors
The four-seat Bestune Pony joins the cute-car crowd with rear doors and a price that puts its Wuling rival squarely in view
Orange car, front three-quarter

FAW's five-door Bestune Pony has launched in China from 44,900 yuan, roughly $6,735. The tiny EV packs four seats into a cheerful little box just 3.35 meters long.

It looks like something you'd buy in a gift shop, but the layout makes room for everyday chores. There are four passenger doors and a rear hatch, so getting into the back doesn't require folding a front seat out of the way.

Read more
Volkswagen’s smartest EVs are launching in China while the US and Europe wait
China-only models already have the software, charging, and driving technology VW’s Western cars are still waiting to receive
Volkswagen ID UNYX 08

Volkswagen’s newest EVs in China are making its American and European models look unusually conservative.

With Xpeng’s help, VW has introduced 800-volt charging and advanced urban driving assistance. The new VEGA technology package brings its locally developed vehicle platforms and CEA electronic architecture under one umbrella. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen intends to update VEGA every three months. Western buyers can find pieces of that package, but not the whole thing in a Volkswagen.

Read more
BYD’s $12,000 Qin Plus DM-i shows how much US buyers are overpaying for their cars
A cheap commuter car that could take you from New York to Miami without refueling? Yes, please.
BYD Qin Plus DM-i feature

BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.

What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles. 

Read more