Skip advert
Advertisement

​Porsche Macan Electric – engine, gearbox and technical highlights

Up to 630bhp and Porsche’s new-gen EV platform, plus its latest (and mostly optional) chassis electronics

Evo rating
Price
from £67,200
  • Feels and performs like a Porsche; quality; tech
  • Ride can be lumpy at low speed; it’s a heavy beast

The Macan is built on a brand new PPE architecture, which has been developed alongside Audi to deliver significant gains in range, performance and dynamics. All models get a 95kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery pack positioned within the underbody, and like the Taycan, the Macan’s platform runs on an 800-volt system to benefit charging speeds (270kW, with a 10 to 80 per cent top up taking 21 minutes) and temperature management.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Macan’s chassis systems are a bit of an acronym fest: it’s offered with ePTM (Porsche Traction Management), dual-valve PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) dampers and the Turbo gets PTV Plus (Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus). The latter adds an electronically-controlled locking differential on the rear axle and helps bring the chassis alive, as we’ll discuss later. Rear-wheel steering is offered as an option, too, while air springs and adaptive dampers are standard on the 4S and Turbo. To improve weight distribution, the latter’s rear motor is directly mounted to the body and positioned behind the back axle – 911 style. 

Speaking of weight, the Macan carries a lot of it. In its lightest single-motor form it comes in at a chunky 2220kg, and the dual-motor Turbo crunches the scales at 2405kg. For a new EV running on a new-generation platform, that’s pretty poor. 

The Macan does at least have the power to shift all that mass, generating up to 630bhp in Turbo form thanks to a pair of e-motors. And with precise control of torque output to the wheels, Porsche’s ePTM traction control system can respond faster and more accurately, responding to wheelspin in under 10 milliseconds. Power is transmitted via a single-speed gearbox, rather than the Taycan’s two-speed solution, and during normal everyday driving, up to 98 per cent of total braking energy can be recovered via regen.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

2026 BMW 3-series spied, with exhaust pipes
2026 BMW 3-series front
News

2026 BMW 3-series spied, with exhaust pipes

The next 3-series will ring in BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ and be electric, hybrid and ICE powered
18 Nov 2024
TVR Griffith (1990 - 2002): a pure and unadulterated sports car
TVR Griffith front
Features

TVR Griffith (1990 - 2002): a pure and unadulterated sports car

The Griffith established TVR as a genuine contender and transformed the company’s fortunes – and it’s still as exhilarating to drive now as it was in …
17 Nov 2024
Cupra Formentor Abt review – a 365bhp crossover for Mercedes-AMG A45 S money
Cupra Formentor Abt – front
Reviews

Cupra Formentor Abt review – a 365bhp crossover for Mercedes-AMG A45 S money

It’s farewell to the original Cupra Formentor with an Abt-tuned run-out package. It’s a quietly excellent car; just a shame about the price...
14 Nov 2024