Al Nabooda Automobiles and Ali & Sons Co will unveil the Macan, Porsche’s all new sporty SUV, to the UAE on April 12, and it was announced this week. The German brand’s fifth model line follows in the footsteps of its number one range, the Cayenne, but boasts the typical sporty handling characteristics and design elements of the 911 and the 918 models.
Christer Ekberg, Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa, stated that with first eliveries of the all-new Macan starting on the 12th of April, Porsche will launch a world first and enter a new segment. The company has no doubt that this car will be another success for Porsche here in the UAE, with the long-term commitment and intensive efforts of the local Porsche Centres across the country. More information of this car is available online on the Porsche website.
The Macan S is equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo engine, delivering 340 hp and also features an active all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled, map-controlled multi-plate clutch.Porsche claims that the vehicle can to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package, and can reach a top speed of 254 km/h. There has been a great deal of interest in the new Macan. Last year, the Cayenne, the luxury SUV, proved the most popular model range and the company is too excited to expand the SUV offering, reaching a new group of customers. The sporty dynamics of the Macan inject an added dose of fun which they believe is set to redefine the SUV market.
Eight airbags and a likely five-star rating are only part of the story. The Macan will do its best to avoid a crash in the first place, not only because of the highly competent steering and handling but by virtue of an optional automatic emergency braking system and side blind zone alert. Air suspension which at the press of a button can adjust ride height and stiffness over bumps has long been over-rated. The latest air suspension system on the cars sampled was impressively refined and well tied down. The steering was another element that Porsche focused heavily on; it feels direct and predictable on the open road, and yet light and easy at parking speeds.
The Macan S is a real sweet spot in the Porsche Macan range. It doesn’t quite have the sensible appeal of the Diesel S but it provides pretty much all the performance of the Turbo model for a price that’s significantly cheaper. We’d say save the cash and maybe invest in the air suspension for a seriously capable and luxurious compact SUV.
