Test driving the Macan Turbo on the streets of Singapore

By Malik Gunatilleke

When Porsche first announced its foray into the world of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), many doubted whether the global sports car giant from Stuttgart would be able to merge its flair and finesse with the demands of a crossover. Its answer of course was the Cayenne back in 2003 which proved to be a great success and later resulted in Porsche’s second all-terrain model – Macan – in 2014.

The Macan set new standards in both performance and driving pleasure on and off road. It combined the most powerful engine range in its class with a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) as well as offering three sporty chassis options which included the air suspension exclusive in this segment. 

The Macan Turbo, with its 3.6 litre V6 biturbo engine and 294 kW (400 hp) as well as the Macan S, with a 3 litre V6 biturbo engine and 250 kW (340 hp), stood out in a class of their own while in 2015, the Macan GTS built on the success of its predecessors with a 20 hp power boost over the Macan S and a revised chassis as well as reinforced brakes.

Now, Porsche is once again upping the ante with the Macan Turbo, topping off the model line with enhanced driving properties, increased agility, and greater power. Equipped with the Performance Package, the Turbo’s twin-turbocharged 3.6 litre V6 engine delivers 324 kW (440 hp), packing the biggest punch amongst Porsche’s Macan line.

The Daily FT was invited by Porsche last week to test drive its latest Macan on the streets of Singapore and the experience certainly lived up to the hype and expectations built up by the list of exhilarating features the Macan Turbo possesses in its repertoire.

Power and poise 

With a top speed of 272 km/h, the vehicle accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds, which is a reduction of 0.4 seconds from the standard Macan. The maximum torque has also risen to 600 Nm and is available in a speed range between 1500 and 4500 rpm.

The power and precision associated with Porsche is immediately felt when you get behind the wheel of the Macan Turbo. Although the streets of Singapore are not ideal for testing this beastly machine to its limits, you cannot help but feel the grace, elegance, and raw muscle associated with a Porsche, in the Macan’s deep rumble alone.

With the Performance Package, not only has the engine power been boosted but the newly-developed brake system, lowered and controlled chassis, Sport Chrono Package, and sports exhaust system are all fitted as standard, making handling smooth and intuitive even on winding paths and testing terrain.

The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system is available at the push of a button while the system has been tuned to the 15 mm lower body. Furthermore, air suspension with a self-levelling function and height adjustment, and further 10 mm lowering, is available as an option.

Sports Chrono Package

The power of the Macan Turbo perhaps cannot be better experienced than when you switch to the Sports Plus mode. The sports exhaust system immediately emits a much deeper, booming sound which is indicative of the boost in performance. The chassis and engine are tuned to sporty effect while the seven-speed PDK double-clutch transmission is designed to deliver extremely short response times, optimum shifting points and increased torque during gear changes, ensuring that you experience the maximum acceleration that the Macan has to offer.

The Macan also comes with several tailored equipment options including the Turbo exterior package which contains 21-inch wheels seen in the 911 Turbo design, LED main headlights equipped with PDLS Plus. The Turbo interior package includes black leather interior, coloured appliqué and carbon elements in several areas as well as a model logo illuminated in white on the entry guards.

Safety and security

The Macan’s performance does not come at the expense of safety as demonstrated by its combination of all-wheel drive (Porsche Traction Management) and the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) program. The constant information exchange between the two via the connecting CAN bus ensures optimal vehicle stability and the shortest possible braking distances. These intuitive features ensure that the driver maintains control of the vehicle even when taking fast corners. Spinning on the drive wheels can be reduced with the intervention of PTM or eliminated entirely before PSM takes effect.

On wet roads, the core PSM functions greatly improve driving safety at the limit. PSM can intervene in critical situations through selective braking in order to stabilise the vehicle. This system is capable of recognising wheel slips far quicker than the driver and can deploy the necessary countermeasures which make the Macan Turbo a safe and reliable drive.

Infotainment system and interior

The Macan Turbo comes fitted with the new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system which features a seven-inch, high resolution touchscreen with an easily navigable, responsive interface. This boasts an intuitive GPS system, proximity sensor, Bluetooth pairing of devices, USB and SD card interfaces as well as iPhone connectivity through Apple CarPlay. Its GPS navigation system provides a high-resolution map display with a nifty zoom function and a highly accurate optional voice command route navigation system, making driving through unfamiliar roads easy and hassle free.

When taking the driving seat of the Macan, the sheer volume of buttons and switches on the steering wheel and dashboard can make it a daunting sight. However, the smooth drive soon puts you at ease with the intricacies of its functions being simple to master in time. Meanwhile, the sporty but chic black and red leather seats and interior, along with stylish red stitching on the dashboard, oozes class and elegance. The storage room in the boot may not be as spacious as some of its competitors in the market but it is still a serviceable feature.

Greater than the sum of its parts

The theme of the test drive really did encapsulate the Porsche Macan Turbo experience. Porsche no longer needs to prove itself in the sporty SUV market that it was touted to be unsuccessful in; instead it continues to add to its already impressive legacy with the attention to detail it displays in its latest upgrade to the Macan model.

Fusing power and practicality, the Porsche Macan Turbo with the Performance Package may not be the most affordable SUV in its class, but may well be worth every penny when considering the punch it packs on all fronts including speed, agility, performance, safety, and stylish panache.