2025 Porsche Macan EV Preview

After a long wait, Porsche’s second pure electric vehicle, the Macan EV, is finally set to arrive next year.

The Macan EV is intriguing for a few key reasons. Firstly, it’ll be joining the main volume nameplate in the Porsche family. Between 2015 and 2022, the Macan was the best-selling Porsche six times. More than 86,000 were sold last year, and 68,354 were sold in the first nine months of 2023, marking a 15 percent year-over-year increase.

Secondly, it’s the first vehicle with a Porsche badge to ride on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture the company co-developed with Audi. And finally, the Macan EV carries technology that will likely filter out across the brand in the coming years.

With all of this in mind, AutoGuide joined a small group of auto journalists in Leipzig, Germany for a preview of the Macan EV to learn more about its technology from members of its development team.

The workshops we participated in were thorough and quite interesting, and while we weren’t allowed to drive the car ourselves, Porsche arranged taxi rides with development engineers in some test mules so we could get a taste of Macan EV performance.

Here’s what we learned.

As mentioned, the Macan EV is the first Porsche based on the Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, which is jointly developed by Porsche and Audi.

Like other Volkswagen Group EVs, like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT, the Macan EV features 800-volt charging technology and permanently excited synchronous electric motors. Among the main benefits of this technology are faster charging, weight reduction for the car’s high-voltage cables, and less space needed for the latter.

All Macan EV models will feature a lithium-ion battery pack with an approximate capacity of 100 kWh. The batteries consist of 12 modules with prismatic cells. Charging speed is targeted at 270 kW with the use of a DC fast charger and charging from 10 to 80 percent can be done in less than 22 minutes, according to Porsche.

The Macan EV also has ‘bank charging’ capability, which enables it to divide the battery pack into two 400-volt units that can be charged together at the same time if the charge station uses 400-volt technology. In this instance, maximum charging speed would be up to 150 kW.

As for recuperation, Porsche says the Macan EV can recover up to 240 kW depending on how the driver applies the brakes. The state of charge and battery temperature are also factors, the company says.

Based on preliminary figures, the Macan EV should be quite fast. Porsche is keeping exact numbers under its hat, but it says the Macan EV will produce up to 603 horsepower 450 kW (450 kW), and more than 737 lb-ft. (1,000 Nm) of torque.

Porsche says there will be entry-level and top-range models at launch, and the size of the electric motors will vary accordingly. For both models, the front axle motor is 3.93 inches (100 mm) long with an 8.26-inch (210 mm) diameter. The rear axle motor, however, is 7.87 inches (200 mm) long with an 8.26-inch (210 mm) diameter on the base model, while the top trim gets a bigger unit that is 8.26 inches (210 mm) long with a 9.05-inch (230 mm) diameter.

As for chassis underpinnings, the Macan EV uses a double-wishbone suspension, with a multi-link setup at the rear which is connected to the body through an elastically mounted sub-frame. Of note, the top-range model will have a rear e-drive unit attached to the body at four points, which will improve handling, increase structural rigidity, and reduce noise, vibration and harshness, Porsche says. The top trim comes standard with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, which is an electronically controlled differential lock located at the rear axle.

PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) is also in the mix, featuring two-valve dampers that adjust based on driving mode. Rear axle steering, a first for the Macan, will also be offered. It’s designed to help improve overall stability, while delivering a smaller 36.4-foot (11.1-meter) turning radius.

The main draw in the Macan EV interior is the Porsche Driving Experience, which features up to three HD screens. The first is a curved 12.6-inch display which houses a configurable instrument cluster. To the right of this display, in the center of the dashboard is a 10.9-inch multimedia touchscreen that houses stereo, navigation and climate functions, among others. The third screen is an optional 10.9-inch passenger display that can be used for navigation, video streaming, and other multimedia content. To reduce driver distraction, the passenger screen has a film covering so it cannot be seen from the driver’s seat.

The Macan EV will also be available with a head-up display that has augmented reality (AR) capability, along with ambient lighting that conveys information to the driver and occupants. A light strip, which runs along the dashboard and into the front door trims, warns exiting front passengers when an oncoming vehicle is approaching, and it also interacts with the car’s driver assistance systems, such as launch control, or when the car is charging.

The PCM (Porsche Communication Management) has been updated for faster response and with more features. For instance, the ‘Hey Porsche’ voice assistant will now suggest routes, including charging stops, while the Porsche App Center can be used to access third-party apps directly from the car.

While we weren’t permitted to drive the Macan EV, Porsche arranged taxi rides (ride-alongs) in test mules for both on and off-road driving demonstrations.

It rained prior to our workshop sessions at the Porsche Experience Center in Leipzig, so the track component of our ride-along was slightly less aggressive than what another group experienced the day before in dry conditions, but our test drivers still managed to wring the cars out quite well.

We were struck not only by how fast the Macan EV is, but how well it clings to the tarmac, even in the wet. Sure, the car was tail-happy at times, but it generally stayed true, and handled the undulating track with ease and confidence.

While the Macan EV’s prowess on-track wasn’t all that surprising, its off-road capabilities were a little more so. The off-road trails at the Leipzig PEC, which used to be an old Soviet military base during the Cold War, are a mix of mud, grass, gravel, and hard-packed dirt. These, plus ruts, sharply angled turns, and deep-water crossings are formidable, but the Macan EV proved to be up to the challenge, thanks in part to a dedicated off-road drive mode.

The Porsche Macan EV goes on sale in 2024. Further details, including pricing, will be announced closer to launch.

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