Porsche Macan Turbo

The premise behind every new Porsche model is to remain unmistakably recognisable as a member of the Porsche family and at the same time to be perceived as “the new one”. For the Porsche designers, this is a constant balancing act between further developing the design and maintaining the brand and product identity. The first Macan was presented in 2013 as a compact sports SUV and has since established itself worldwide. This makes it all the more challenging to design the next generation with a fully electric drive concept more than ten years later. Yet the designers have succeeded. The new Macan is based on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) specially developed for electric vehicles. As electric vehicles do not require combustion engine-specific components, this platform also offers more design freedom. For example, without the massive combustion engine, it was possible to give the Macan Turbo a new, coupé-like roofline reminiscent of the iconic flyline of the Porsche 911. The flattened roof contour and the optimised rear section also increase aerodynamic efficiency, which plays an important role in the range of an electric sports car. Furthermore, in combination with strongly pronounced shoulders and a continuous light strip with Porsche lettering, this also emphasises the powerful rear end and reinforces the sporty appearance of the SUV. Despite the extensive redesign, the interior of the new Macan follows the characteristic Porsche design. It maintains the balance between digital interfaces and analogue elements such as rotary controls and air vents according to the principle of functional interaction. As Porsche chief designer Michael Mauer pointed out, user ergonomics are crucial and must be appropriate for a sports car. A wide black panel, a rising centre console and the low seating position further emphasise the sporty character. The jury was unanimous: the electric Macan Turbo combines all the qualities that characterise a Porsche sports car. “You expect Porsche to consistently maintain its design identity – and yet the Macan Turbo manages to set new standards in terms of craftsmanship both inside and out,” the jurors summarised. They also recognised the vehicle as a role model: “The functional design of the Macan shows the direction in which the automotive industry should develop – without slipping into playful arbitrariness.”