Porsche Macan 95B.1 – The Story
The real volume selling Porsche arrives
The Porsche Macan was first seen in November 2013 and went on sale in the United States in 2014 as 2015 model year car. It was going to be called the Cajun originally, but changed the name to Macan before launch. The meaning? Macan means Tiger in Indonesian, which pretty much sums up Porsche's small and sporty SUV. Porsche says the Macan is for people who like the idea of a sports car, but need a little more room in their life. When it was launched in 2014, a few miles on some country roads was all real drivers needed to understand that Porsche’s DNA had been successfully transplanted into the company’s new, mid-size SUV. The Porsche Macan was the real deal. The Macan was Porsche’s fifth model in the lineup and represented Porsche’s first foray into the luxury compact CUV segment. The Macan sits on Volkswagen’s MLB platform (shared with the Audi Q5).
Originally, Porsche launched the Macan S and the Macan Turbo. The second model year, 2016, didn’t bring many changes to the Macan, aside from three-zone climate control becoming standard. But 2017 gave us a new trim, the Porsche Macan GTS, designed to fit between the two launch models with its 3.0 twin-turbo V6 and slightly more boost pressure than the S. It also had standard PASM adaptive suspension paired with air springs. Porsche added a 2.0L in-line 4-cylinder turbo model as the Macan entry point. All models got Porsche's superb seven-speed PDK and electro-mechanical power steering, a double wishbone front suspension and what Porsche calls a “self tracking trapezoidal link” suspension in the rear. All Macans get six-piston front brake calipers and single-piston floating rear clampers. Those calipers are putting the squeeze on 13.8-inch front rotors on the Macan S and 14.2-inchers on the Macan GTS and Turbo. Rear rotors are 13 inches on the S and GTS, while the Turbo gets the bigger 14-inch rear pizzas.
In July 2018, Porsche unveiled a new facelift for the Macan range in Shanghai. The production started the following month and the Europeans saw it at the Paris Motor Show in September. The 2019 Porsche Macan update includes refreshed exterior styling that includes updated front and rear bumpers, new taillamps that span the width of the liftgate, and new wheel designs. Porsche also gave us another update to for the 2022 model year. While this isn’t a full redesign, the Macan got some notable tweaks to its exterior, interior and mechanicals. Across the 2022 Macan lineup, Porsche gave buyers more powerful engine options compared to 2021 models.
The Macan is the top selling Porsche and looks likely to be the car that defines the company going forward. It outsells all the other models by some margin. There were just 3880 new 718 (Boxster/Cayman) owners in 2019. Compare that to the 22,667 new owners of the Macan in 2019 and the case for the Macan looks pretty solid! Since its market launch in 2014, over 137,000 units of the compact SUV have been delivered in America.
Type: 95B / Generation: First Generation / Manufacturer: Porsche AG / Production Years: 2014 - Present / Model Years: 2015 - Present / Designer: Michael Mauer / Body Style: 5-Door SUV / Layout: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive/ : VW Group MLB / Engines: 2.0-litre EA888 Gen 3 (CNCD) I4 Turbo TSI (Macan), 3.0-litre V6 Turbo-diesel TDI (S Diesel), 3.0-litre V6 TT TFSI (S & GTS), 3.0-litre V6 Turbo TFSI (S, Facelift), 3.6-litre V6 TT (Turbo), 2.9-litre V6 TT TFSI (GTS & Turbo, Facelift) / Transmission: 7-speed PDK / Official photos: 2013 November 19, GTS 2015 October 28 / Premiere: 2013 November 19, Los Angeles Auto Show / Market launch: 2014 April 5, GTS 2015 October 28
The production version of the Macan was unveiled at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show[13] and 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. European models went on sales in spring 2014 and the initial line-up of models included the Macan S and Macan Turbo. US models arrived at U.S. dealerships in late spring 2014 as 2015 model year vehicle. Early models included Macan S, Macan Turbo. Porsche subsequently released a base Macan for select Asian markets and the United Kingdom. This engine became offered globally for the Macan's 2017 model year following an announcement in March 2016. Changes to the Macan for 2016 include Porsche Communication Management system, optional full-LED headlights, redesigned steering controller, extended exterior and interior packages for Macan Turbo.
The 2019 model year Macan was first unveiled in July 2018 in Shanghai as petrol four-cylinder base model and received its European debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. It went into production in August 2018. Changes to the previous model include an overhauled chassis, a gasoline particulate filter fitted as standard, a new front and rear fascia with LED head- and tail-lights as standard, new exterior colors and wheel designs, and a redesigned interior with Porsche Communication Management with 10.9-inch touchscreen display and Connect Plus with Porsche Offroad Precision App as standard. Optionally available systems include active suspension management, air suspension, torque vectoring, Sport Chrono package including Launch Control as well as park and traffic assistance systems. Overall, this mid-generation Macan update heralded sleeker looks, lower ride profile, enhanced performance and new interior. Porsche never rests.
While this isn’t a full redesign, the Macan got some notable tweaks to its exterior, interior and mechanicals for the 2022 model year. Across the 2022 Macan lineup, Porsche is giving buyers more powerful engine options compared to 2021 models. Base models still get a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but it’s been updated to produce 261 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque — increases of 13 and 22, respectively, over the 2021 version. The 2022 Macan S gets the engine from the 2021 Macan GTS, a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 making 375 hp and 383 pounds-feet. The current range-topping Macan, the GTS, gets the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 from the 2021 Macan Turbo, giving it 434 hp and 406 pounds-feet. If you’re sensing the start of a pattern, so are we, but Porsche hasn’t announced anything with higher performance than the GTS, at least not yet. The GTS also gets standard Porsche Surface Coated Brakes and an adaptive suspension Porsche says can be up to 15% stiffer than in previous models. The revised models get freshened front styling with new air intakes and body-color bumper trim, along with a new, taller rear diffuser. Along the sides, the side blade design now includes a textured element and Sport Design side mirrors are now standard. A bevy of new wheel choices are available with sizes now ranging from 19 to 21 inches. Refinements rather than major changes are the name of the game inside the 2022 Macan, too. There’s a new center console design with touch-sensitive controls around a revised and shorter gear selector lever. The standard 10.9-inch touchscreen includes built-in navigation and Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto compatibility; though Porsche recently announced an update to its multimedia system to include Android Auto, the 2022 Macan doesn’t get the new system.
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