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Porsche is not working on a petrol version of the new Macan, despite conflicting comments from a company executive.
Electric Cars
A petrol-powered version of the new all-electric Porsche Macan is not happening, even as customer demand swings back towards petrol power for large, luxury SUVs.
Despite recent reports from the company’s chief financial officer suggesting Porsche is investigating how it could incorporate internal combustion engines (ICE) into its new platforms, there are no plans to change the new Porsche Macan’s all-electric strategy. Even with slower-than-expected sales for electric vehicles around the world.
Speaking at the Australian launch of the new Porsche Macan, vice president of the Macan product line, Jörg Kerner, said the model will remain an electric car only.
“At the moment, [an ICE Macan is] not planned,” Mr Kerner told assembled media.
“Because, you can do with an electric Macan… everything's better than the combustion [predecessor] and we [made the decision].
“And so, we at the moment, it's not planned.”
Instead, Mr Kerner pointed to other models in Porsche’s line-up, such as the Cayenne, which could continue with petrol powertrain options into the future – instead of switching to electric-only ranges like the new Porsche Macan.
However, not only is an ICE version of the new Macan not planned, but it’s not technically possible, either.
"This was developed [as an] electric car from scratch, of course. We don't see the necessity for [electric and petrol power],” said Kerner.
“I mean, there are more models, for example, like Cayenne… where we said, ‘Okay, customers should be able to choose between combustion, hybrid and electric versions.’”
“But Macan was actually designed as an EV and [we decided] that this, let's say, more compact SUV version… it's the right way to go for electric.
“And that's what we have at the moment. There are no discussions about [an ICE variant].”
The new Porsche Macan arrives substantially more expensive than its predecessor, with the entry-level variant costing $33,000 more than the previous base petrol.
However, the brand is not open to introducing a lower-priced petrol variant, nor is it willing to introduce a smaller, more affordable high-voltage battery.
All four Porsche Macan variants utilise a 100kWh battery in varying states of tune.
Asked about a smaller battery, a spokesperson for the Cayenne and Macan product lines said "No, that's not planned."
"The customer should, should have this 100kWh battery in every model [because it offers the right balance between performance and driving range]," a spokesperson said.
Porsche’s electrification strategy five years ago was to electrify 80 per cent of its line-up by 2030. However, slow EV uptakes have forced the manufacturer to revise its targets.
As of mid-way through 2024, Porsche states it could deliver over 80 per cent of its vehicles as electric models by 2030, though it would be dependent on customer demand.
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Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.
