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NEWS
Macan will be next Porsche plug-in
PHEV, Turbo S and GTS versions of Porsche's baby SUV to come – but no two-doorPorsche's next plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) will be the Macan – and it will be powered by the same supercharged V6 petrol-electric powertrain as the Panamera and Cayenne S E-Hybrid models.
While Audi, BMW and most recently Mercedes-Benz have all revealed PHEV strategies to reduce their fleet-average CO2 emissions, Porsche says its new Cayenne S E-Hybrid will make it the only premium car-maker to offer three plug-in models.
While the left-hand drive 918 Spyder supercar was Porsche's first PHEV, the Panamera S E-Hybrid is currently being shown to dealers and potential customers around Australia as the first step in the company's local PHEV push.
The next step will be the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, which will arrive here after the November launch of the facelifted large SUV line-up now being launched in Europe. The first plug-in Cayenne will be Porsche's star car at the Paris motor show from October 2, before its separate international press launch later next month.
While the plug-in Panamera will be by special order only, Porsche Cars Australia has big hopes for the Cayenne PHEV, which is expected to find "upwards of 60 customers a year," said spokesman Paul Ellis, "which is significant considering that's from a very low base".
The previous (non plug-in) Panamera and Cayenne S Hybrid models attracted less than 10 buyers each during their entire model lives.
"Plug-in hybridisation is a huge part of Porsche's future," he said.
Ellis said that as Australia's first plug-in luxury SUV, the Cayenne PHEV – which at $139,200 is more than $160,000 cheaper than the $300K Panamera plug-in and almost $11,000 more affordable than the Cayenne hybrid it replaces – would attract more first-time Porsche buyers than previous Cayenne owners.
"Cayenne [PHEV] will be different because of the price point," he said.
While he did not confirm its imminent launch, Porsche's SUV sales and marketing director Julian Baumann made it clear the Macan S E-Hybrid was ready to go.
"We have the Panamera plug-in and now we're launching the Cayenne plug-in," he told motoring.com.au at this week's MY15 Cayenne global launch in Barcelona.
"Nothing has been decided for Macan. [But] If there is market demand or legal [emissions] requirements we are ready to react.
"We are starting with a top-down approach."
Motoring.com.au understands the Macan S E-Hybrid will be powered by the same PHEV system as the Panamera and Cayenne, including their Audi-sourced 245kW/440Nm supercharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and 70kW/310Nm synchronous electric motor, which together deliver total system outputs of 306kW and 590Nm.
The 2350kg Cayenne plug-in, which has a 382-volt, 10.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack, is claimed to accelerate to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds, yet consumes just 3.4L/100km and emits only 79g/km of CO2 – less than a Toyota Prius.
The lighter (2095kg) Panamera S E-Hybrid is even more efficient, employing the same powertrain but a lower-energy 9.4kWh Li-Ion battery pack to hit 100km/h in 5.5 seconds while being able to consume just 3.1L/100km and travel for the same 36km on electric power alone.
The Macan S E-Hybrid will be significantly lighter, more efficient and quicker.
Baumann said the Macan range would grow to be as large as the Cayenne line-up, but confirmed the axing of plans to produce a 'coupe' version in the same vein as the two-door Range Rover Evoke.
"We could imagine additional models such as GTS and Turbo S," he said.
"[But] For us the Macan is [already] a coupe. It's closer to [the BMW] X4 than X3. Evoque two-door is only 20 per cent [of sales]. It's very successful in China.
"We studied it – that's our job. But for us a two-door version is not an option. There's no need to have a two-door. It would only have disadvantages."
Porsche has previously ruled out China's 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol version of the Macan for Australia and Baumann also said there would be no four-cylinder diesel or two-wheel drive variants.
"All our SUVs are four-wheel drive," he said. "For me two-wheel drive is not an option. I was surprised when BMW did a 2WD X5. It changes the way the car handles and would harm our brand image."
Baumann said that despite demand outstripping supply globally, the Macan would not overtake the Cayenne as Porsche's best-seller, because size matters in Porsche's two largest markets – the US and China.
The larger SUV accounts for more than half of Porsche's sales in Australia, and almost half worldwide.
He said Macan and Cayenne sales would be "more or less the same" once both model ranges are complete,
"In Europe there is a downsizing trend. [But in China] They like size and the Cayenne is bigger."
While Porsche produced a record 80,000-plus Cayennes last year, three shifts are currently producing Macans at full capacity at Leipzig, which can build up to 50,000 vehicles annually.
Yet supply shortages exist around the world – especially in Australia, where the waiting list extends to next May – with sales exceeding targets in most markets.
Baumann said the Macan would not be produced in China in the foreseeable future, but would not rule it out.
"Leipzig is flexible but we're already at three shifts. We have no plans for production in China, but never say never.
"They say India is 10 years behind China [in terms of vehicle sales], but not in the premium market. The US and China will remain our main markets for the next five years at least," he said.
Written byMarton Pettendy
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