LA Auto Show 2013: Meet the Porsche Macan

Porsche fought seemingly endless criticism when they first decided to build the Cayenne in 2002. Despite the major hubbub of Porsche “abandoning” it’s sport’s car roots, the Cayenne went on to become their most popular model. It is the car that allows Porsche to keep making the cars that we love. It didn’t hurt that it was fast as all hell to boot.

Now they’re aiming to hit gold a second time with the even smaller, Porsche Macan. What’s interesting about this car compared to it’s bigger brother, is that Porsche is coming out with the fast stuff first. There is no “base model” Macan in the US. You can either get a Macan S or Macan Turbo.

The Macan S comes equipped with a twin-turbo 340 horsepower V6 that’ll do the run to 60mph in a scant 5.2 seconds. The Porsche Macan Turbo comes with a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes an even 400 horses. It’ll get to 60 in 4.6 seconds. So basically, the Macan Turbo will reliably dust your garden variety 991 Carrera. Crazy right?

Here’s what’s really crazy. The base model Macan will only cost $49,000 dollars. That’s about  a $5000 price hike from the Audi Q5, but you get a lot more performance for it. That also makes this the least expensive Porsche available. The Turbo costs $72,000, which places it right behind the base model Panamera. It should be noted that if you were to race the two, the Panamera would far behind the Macan Turbo while cost far more (and looking far worse).

If the Cayenne can be a successful cash cow for Porsche, I can only imagine what the future hold for them with this thing.

Check both models out in detail in our gallery below!