We were all much younger when Porsche announced that the second generation of its Macan would be fully electric. It happened in early 2019, and after five years of teasing, Zuffenhausen’s zero-emission crossover is finally ready for the spotlight. The wraps will come off the EV-only Macan later today.
It has some big shoes to fill as the petrol model has been a huge hit for the German brand since it launched in 2014. Despite being released with modest modifications over the years, it is still a huge commercial success. In 2023, it was the second best-selling product with 87,355 units or fewer than 200 vehicles, behind leader Cayenne. Can the Macan EV match the popularity of the ICE model? Time will tell.
Since Porsche has spoken extensively about its first electric SUV in recent months, most of the pieces of the puzzle are already in place. The Macan EV will be the first Volkswagen Group model to run on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, developed jointly with Audi. The Four Rings will get their own version later this year as the Q6 E-Tron, plus a swoopy Sportback derivative. In the case of the Macan, look for the top model – possibly a Turbo – which offers more than 600 horsepower and 738 pound-feet (1,000 Newton-meters) of torque from a dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup.
The Macan without a combustion engine has an evolutionary style and gets a new air suspension with two-valve dampers for a silky smooth ride. For better agility, Porsche engineers give it rear-wheel steering and an electronic rear differential lock. Inside, it follows current trends by adopting a screen-heavy dashboard, while retaining several air conditioning shortcuts.
The Macan EV won’t replace the gas model, at least not right away. Porsche plans to sell the first and second generation models simultaneously before pulling the plug on the ICE model in a few years. However, the gas model could become extinct later this year in the 27 countries that make up the European Union. New cybersecurity rules are expected to spell the end of the conventionally powered Macan in the EU within a few months. Even if that were the case, Porsche will continue to sell the vehicle in markets outside the EU.
Logic tells us the electric model will command a significant premium over the regular Macan. Price parity between ICE and EV always seems a few years away. Chances are that it will take a while before giving up the combustion engine will not cost you anything extra.
The livestream debut of the 2025 Porsche Macan EV will begin at 6:30 AM Eastern / 11:30 AM GMT.