The new Porsche Macan takes to the Arctic snow

New and improved stand-alone model ups the SUV ante even further.
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Graham Scott|Autocar30 December 2016

For a performance package, a price tag of over £68,000 seems a bit steep doesn’t it? But, despite the name, this is not an add-on, it’s a model in its own right. And it’s actually quite an impressive package, one most of us would be only too pleased to unwrap.

The first thing Porsche did was to add another 39bhp to the 3.6-litre V6 and a bit more torque. Then they added control to the power, in the form of the Sport Chrono pack, something which is normally an option, even on the Turbo. Porsche was pretty confident of the result, so confident that the launch of the vehicle was way inside the Arctic Circle, where freezing temperatures and icy road conditions made the prospect of trying to control over 400bhp about as attractive as going outside without your trousers on.

But on an icy slalom course the Porsche stayed remarkably tidy and under control. However, we had the PSM stability control, the torque vectoring, in fact everything that works as the Macan’s traction management system. Everything was on full, and it was very impressive at the way the power was getting to the surface, if not the ground.

Then we switched it all off. In some vehicles you’d be headfirst into the nearest snow bank, but not with the Macan. We kept it in Comfort so the throttle response stayed a bit gentler, but we could get round that course like a couple of frisky ice skaters, although we managed not to do any pirouettes.

This was pretty amazing, but of course it didn’t show the full extent of what the Macan can do. Under there are the PASM adaptive dampers with a 15mm lowering of the ride height, beefier discs on the braking, a switchable sports exhaust, and more. How that would all translate on a wet or even dry road, we have yet to find out.

But on this showing, the Macan Turbo Performance Package model is a thoroughly together package, that lifts the bar that bit higher in what is achievable in a sports SUV. We can’t wait to try it on what passes for a normal road in the UK. A price hike of about £5500 seems like reasonable value. Particularly if it keeps you out of snow drifts.

Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package

Price £68,073
Engine V6, 3604cc, twin-turbo, petrol
Power 434bhp at 6000rpm
Torque 443lb ft at 1500-4500rpm
Kerb weight 2000kg
Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic
0-62mph 4.4sec
Top speed 169mph
Economy 30.1mpg (combined)
CO2/BIK tax band 217g/km, 37%

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