Update: Porsche has dropped some images showing the triple-screen interior of the upcoming 2025 Macan EV, which will feature an augmented reality head-up display that can project navigation instructions onto the road ahead of the driver. And though the Stuttgart team isn’t quite ready to unveil the undisguised exterior just yet, a new set of spy shots posted to Instagram beats Porsche to punch, revealing the EV with almost zero camouflage. [12/13]
Audi has already revealed a virtually showroom-ready Q6 e-tron, so it stands to reason that Porsche’s version of that same electric SUV, the Macan EV, won’t wait too long before making its own debut. We’re not quite there yet, but you can tell we’re close because Porsche has just released a set of pictures showing the interior of the new Macan. They show the new screen-heavy interior, which borrows heavily from the recently refreshed Cayenne, adopting a new 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster and a dash-mounted toggle gear selector between that cluster and the 10.9-inch main infotainment screen.
Related: $593k Macan EV-Powered Porsche Boat Hits The Water
An optional third screen located above the glovebox and measuring the same 10.9 inches as the central display lets those riding shotgun stream videos and use apps like TikTok. And they can do this whether the car is moving or stationary because the screen’s surface prevents the driver sneaking a look. He’s got his own toys to play with, anyway, courtesy of a new augmented reality head-up display that can project navigation images onto the road, to make sure you never make a wrong turn.
Macan EV’s exterior design scooped
Porsche stopped short of revealing the exterior of the Macan EV, but fortunately that perennial thorn in auto industry’s side, @wilcoblok has stepped into the breach and delivered a pair of images showing the SUV virtually undisguised. The front-three-quarter and rear-three-quarter images show the Macan with only the merest hint of tape over its full-width rear light bar, but otherwise completely camo-free.
The front end features peaked fenders, a split-headlight arrangement and a jutting chin spoiler, while the lower section of the rear bumper skips the diffuser-style treatment we’ve come to expect on everything from supercars to subcompacts, and goes for a set of horizontal ribs instead.
Related: Porsche Considers Keeping The ICE-Powered Macan Alive For Longer
SH Proshots
Compared with the exiting ICE Macan’s doors, the EV’s – still featuring conventional pull handles, note – have a different shape as they roll inwards towards the sill, giving the SUV more of a pinched waist this time. But overall, it’s surprising how similar the EV and ICE models look given that they built around entirely different platforms and the basic design of the Macan is approaching its 10th birthday. That’s a testament to how right Porsche got the Macan all those years ago.
Combustion Macan isn’t going anywhere yet
Porsche is at pains to point out that the EV isn’t a replacement for the combustion-powered Macan. The two models will live side by side for a few years, Porsche recognizing that not all of its customers are ready to make the switch. The automaker is concerned about the quality of the EV infrastructure in North America and reportedly told US dealers it will review its decision on ditching the combustion-engined Macan in 2025 or 2026, based on the sales volume over the next two years.
But when customers find out how much muscle the EV is packing they might find it hard to resist leaving gas pumps behind. Though we’re still waiting to learn the full powertrain lineup, we do know that the top-spec cars will have a maximum output of 603 hp (450 kW / 612 PS) and 737+ lb-ft (1,000+ Nm) of torque. The most powerful version of the combustion Porsche Macan currently available, the GTS, only makes 434 hp (440 PS), and even accounting for its lighter curb weight it’s inevitably going to get smoked in a straight line.
CarPix
Sports car handling?
Porsche also says that a greater portion of the Macan EV’s weight (52 percent) is over the rear wheels, giving the kind of front:rear balance normally seen in mid-engined cars, which bodes well for handling. The stock chassis setup on base cars consists of double-wishbones at the pointy end and a multi-link rear with steel springs and analog dampers, but can be upgraded to include adaptive dampers or even a full air suspension kit. A torque vectoring differential is standard on the range-topper and rear-axle steering also makes its Macan debut on the EV model, but the active roll-stabilisation system fitted to the Cayenne stays with the Cayenne.
According to a report by Porsche Club of America, the Macan EV has two charging ports, one on each side of the car located in the rear quarter panel. It claims that either port can be used for AC charging, but only the left-side port can handle DC fast charging. The 800-volt charging system can operate as two 400-volt batteries for speedy refills, though that’s not got anything to do with the twin-port arrangement – that’s simply there for convenience.
No exact timeline has been confirmed regarding the Macan EV’s debut but we anticipate to see it within the next few months if not weeks, according to recent rumors, with sales following in 2024.
