The crew at AutoBlog recently got the chance to travel to Germany to take a Porsche-hosted look at the company’s new Macan CUV. Lucky ducks. They did have their work cut out for them, though: showing that the new Porsche rig is not just a glorified Audi Q5, despite the past rumors of how alike the two vehicles were going to be once produced and their current mechanical parts-sharing.
They certainly have their share of similarities:
– The Macan rides atop the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) and a 110.5-inch wheelbase, just like the Q5.
– Both share the same floor stamping, firewall and concealed electrical and mechanical subsystems, as well as basic suspension architecture, power steering unit and rear brakes (although the last three components have been Porsche-ified).
But the differences are many and substantial:
– The shield-bearer is shorter from bottom to top and longer from bumper to bumper than the four-ringer. It also has a wider track.
– Despite its bigger size, the 4,112-pound Macan S is nearly 300 L-Bs more svelte than the 4,409-pound SQ5.
– The Macan S offers a twin-turbo, 90-degree, 340-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6; the SQ5 is moved by a supercharged, 60-degree, 354-horsepower engine of the same displacement, cylinder count and arrangement. Adding the Turbo suffix to the Macan name equates to it using a 3.6-liter V6 pumping out 400 horsepower with the help of two turbochargers. High-performance dry sump oiling systems in the pair of Porsche motors add sporting credentials and enable them to be mounted lower in the Macan’s chassis for a better center of gravity.
– Although both German vehicles use the same electro-mechanical power steering architecture (the first time for a Porsche), the Macan has a quicker 14.3:1 ratio and has been calibrated to provide a heavier feel.
Not only does the Macan set itself apart from the Q5, it distinguishes itself from all other models in the segment:
– Its seven-speed, dual-cutch PDK gearbox is the first use of such a unit in a utility vehicle.
– No segment competitor offers the Macan’s four-corner air suspension (coupled with Porsche Active Suspension Management) or its optional Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV Plus), which helps turn-in and stability in curves.
– The Macan is the first product in its class available with carbon-ceramic brakes.
So, the Macan is a Porsche. (Its all-wheel-drive system can be found on the 911 Carrera 4.) And Porsches are known to be fast. How fast is the Macan, then? In S trim, with the Sport Chrono package, it will hit 60 in five seconds flat and continue to a 156-mph top speed. The Sport-Chrono-equipped Turbo will blast from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds and max out at 164 mph.
Their verdict? “It is a sports car trapped in the shell of a crossover.”
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
