Wraps come off new Porsche

Porsche has unveiled its new compact – the Macan – at the Tokyo Motor Show with the marque hoping it will make it more accessible to a wider range of buyers. The model has drawn criticism that it’s “not a proper Porsche” because it’s a compact, but the company’s president and chief executive disagrees. Matthias Mueller says: “We were accused of being controversial when we launched the Cayenne, but when people got in the car they soon realised it drove like a true Porsche. It brought new customers to the brand. “Now we’re bringing Porsche capabilities to the booming compact SUV segment. The Macan will make the marque accessible to many people who didn’t think they would one day own a Porsche.” Based on Audi Q5’s platform, the Macan will be built a Porche’s Leipzig plant at a rate of 50,000 a year and it hopes it will become a mainstay as the burgeoning market for compact SUVs expands. It says the Macan will bring performance to the segment “combining sports-car handling characteristics with style”. The S model is equipped with a three-litre V6 bi-turbo engine delivering 340hp and it features an active all-wheel-drive with an electronically controlled, map-controlled and multi-plate clutch. The car features a seven-speed double-clutch transmission and has a 0-100kph sprint time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 254kph. The Macan S Diesel uses a three-litre V6 turbo engine still capable of 0-100kph in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 230kph. Top of the range is the Turbo using a 3.6-litre V6 biturbo, which is being used in a Porsche model for the first time. This unit delivers 400hp, 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 266kph. In Germany, the Macan S and Macan S Diesel are priced at $95,501 and the Turbo at $131,598. They will be on sale in April 2014.