Porsche Macan Turbo First Look
Photos: Porsche
Touted as the rival SUV for the Audi Q5 and the new Mercedes GLC, the 400-hp Porsche Macan Turbo is set to stand its ground and hold its own in Porsche’s twelve year history of SUV manufacturing, fourteen if you want to be particular. This luxury sports-utility vehicle, if you will allow, does not disappoint, as it upholds the culture of powerful and attractive SUV’s from the German giant.
Features characteristic of Porsche are evident in the sleek headlights and the toned side profile along with the addition of the side blades—sending greetings to the 918—which make for a sportier, polished look. The rear lends homage to the peculiar Porsche design, pulling the Porsche lover in and capturing them with a feeling of comfort and familiarity.
The interior is built to provide the continued feeling of comfort and intimacy with the road that Porsche aficionados have come to know and appreciate. The Macan interior, despite coming in smaller than its Cayenne counterpart, boasts many similarities with regards to the placement of many of the buttons, controls and the quintessentially Porsche left lock ignition.
The Macan, primarily a rear wheel drive, has a 3.6-litre, twin turbo V6 engine with 400-hp as previously mentioned and 406 pounds of torque. It is capable of a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.8s with an in-gear acceleration of 80-120 km/h in 3.1s with maximum speeds of 266 km/h. With specifications as such, the Macan is equally capable of taking a spin on the racetrack as it is well balanced enough for picking up the groceries. The exotic element is lost on the trip to the store, but you know, it is the overall package. For racers among us, of the Macan turbo’s air suspension option will improve the general sportiness of the vehicle as you can lower it for a lower center of gravity, therefore providing more stability and higher capability of lateral acceleration. The ability to off-road is present also with this air suspension option as the SUV can be raised just as much as it was lowered.
Porsche owners will agree, that when it comes to options, Porsche is one of, if not the most popular for providing their customers with a particularly individual, but no less thought provoking experience when it comes to choosing the additions for the car. Starting at a base price of about $70,000, you will really have to consider whether changing the seatbelt shade to espresso is necessary. However, being a part of the Porsche family is nothing if not a luxurious privilege, that only an exclusive few are capable of holding. The one SUV mentality fits all, is not and will never be applicable to the Macan Turbo. Once you step into this vehicle, it will become difficult to ignore the sport like qualities that are ubiquitously Porsche.
