06:08AM - 24.02.'14
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News Source: autoblog.com
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I knew it was a softball question, but I asked it anyway. It's pretty standard for automakers to offer up some examples of competitors when they invite the media to drive a new vehicle for the first time. If not stated outright, it's just as standard for some journalist to query about the competitive set as soon as the Q&A begins. I knew full well that Porsche believes it has a valuable new niche to itself with the 2015 Macan (and especially with the Macan Turbo), but I wanted to hear the answer to the competitor cars question anyway. Porsche CEO Matthias Müller didn't hesitate for a second to respond. With a half-smirk appropriate to an executive that is about to launch the (very probably) most profitable and best-selling product in his brand's lineup he chuckled, "Of course, I could be arrogant and say this car has no competitors..." Arrogant? Well, the grinning Müller certainly didn't give off a humble vibe as he proceeded to count down a list of German and British utility vehicles from various classes that are clearly behind the pace of the Macan in either looks, luxury, or sporting prowess – Range Rover Sport, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK among them. I can also say that the exec's hubristic response wasn't unwarranted. One day past flogging the Porsche Macan Turbo on road and track, there's no question in my mind that this is the best sporting crossover on the planet. Whether or not you care about "the best sporting crossover" is another matter entirely. There are still Porsche purists and diehards that haven't recovered from the perceived ignominy associated with the building of a utility vehicle, to say nothing of the fact that the storied company now sells more vehicles with four doors than with two. Every Porsche executive that I spoke with at the automaker's newly renovated Leipzig facility – where the Macan is being produced – contends that the company mandate is to build the best 'sports car' in every segment it competes in, even if the segment in question happens to be the typically sleepy small crossover group. The Macan Turbo makes use of a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine, tuned to produce 400 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, operable solely via the company's seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. Full torque is available from 1,350 to 4,500 rpm, which segues nicely with the horsepower peak of 6,000 rpm. A few other journalists on my program commented on some slight turbo lag, but I didn't notice much of any to speak of on the track, or any of the variable road situations that I encountered. Suffice it to say that if there is a flat spot in the power delivery from this engine, it's a subtle one indeed. I'll quickly note that, while I did have time behind the wheel of the 340-hp, 339-lb-ft Macan S, with it's 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6, I spent most of my time evaluating the Turbo. Look for a full review of the S just as soon as we get one in the US. Equipped with the Sport Chrono package, Porsche estimates that the Macan Turbo will gallop from 0-60 in some 4.4 seconds. That's plenty quick. For reference: Land Rover lists the 0-60 time of its Range Rover Sport – that of the 510-horsepower, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine – as five seconds flat. Still not impressed? Consider than that the acceleration time is two-tenths of a second quicker than that of the base 911 Carrera. The Macan Turbo delivers its power with such smoothness to all four corners (the all-wheel-drive system has a rear bias, but is infinitely variable from front to back), that my only complaint in the drivetrain experience is the lack of the "holy shit!" moment that is usually part of the Porsche "Turbo" package. The application of speed is almost completely without drama, which should be a good feature for a luxury CUV buyer while being slightly disappointing in context of the brand's palpitating history. The sensation of speed might be more laid back than visceral, but the V6 does sound deliciously menacing when the revs pile on. The exhaust system is actually rather hushed at low loads (complementing a very quiet experience at autobahn speeds) with an internal flap opening to offer a full-throated bellow when one dives deeper into the throttle. I'm very much in favor of the sounds produced by the flat-sixes in Porsche's current range, but I'd still be willing to bet that sports fans worldwide would pick this Macan V6 song-in-anger as the more euphonious tune. |
