Porsche planning new SUV

Porsche is planning for a combustion-engined SUV that could replace its petrol-powered Macan amid slower-than-expected sales of plug-in models.

The midsize model would offer petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains, and could be launched toward the end of the decade, says the marque.

It would sit alongside the fully electric Macan, pictured, and would be “clearly differentiated” from it, says chief executive officer, Oliver Blume.

He adds: “The Macan in future will be available only as purely electric. But in that same environment, we will be developing a SUV that still can work with synergies we have from other modules.”

What platform the model will use has yet to be revealed. However, there is industry speculation it could sit on the premium platform combustion architecture developed by Audi, which features on the new Q5 midsize SUV, new A5 sedan and A6 Avant station wagon.

Porsche will develop combustion-engine and PHEV versions of the Cayenne large SUV and Panamera large sedan “well into the 2030s”, adds Blume.

Porsche’s original target of 80 per cent BEVs by 2030 “is not realistic anymore and the transition into electromobility has taken a slower approach”.

The marque is reacting to a sharp decline in its BEV sales in 2024, due in part to falling demand in China and the US’ shifting political landscape.

With 82,795 registrations last year, the Macan was Porsche’s second bestselling model globally last year after the Cayenne. BEV sales accounted for 13 per cent of its volume in 2024, which was down 3.9 per cent from 2023 as Taycan demand fell.