2015 Porsche Macan Turbo Makes 400 HP: 2013 LA Auto Show

Porsche’s push into the compact crossover segment is here, packing a choice of six-shooters powering the all four wheels.

There are three models being built: the Macan S, Macan S Diesel and range-topping Macan Turbo. All three use six-cylinder engines fitted with turbochargers, although the three wind up producing very different products. Base models comes with a 3.0-liter making 340 hp and hits 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The diesel engine only makes 258 hp and accelerates to 60 mph in 6.3 while the Macan Turbo’s 3.6-liter biturbo V6 makes 400 hp and launches to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Unfortunately, the diesel model isn’t planned for sale in North America just yet. Pricing for the base Macan S starts at $49,900 while the Turbo model costs $72,300.

Owners who equip their car with the Sport Chrono package familiar to other Porsche products will see those sprint times drop by 0.2 seconds across the board thanks to the launch control feature it includes.

All Macan models come with standard an rear-biased all-wheel drive system. They are also equipped with both sport and off-road modes that optimize shifts patterns to be better suited for sporty or slow driving conditions. Porsche equips the vehicles with its seven-speed PDK transmission.

SEE ALSO: 2013 LA Auto Show Coverage

While Porsche says the base chassis is tuned for performance, but there are two available upgrades as well. “Porsche Active Suspension Management” comes standard on the Macan Turbo and offers continuously adjusting dampers for improved ride comfort and minimized body roll. It comes with three selectable modes: “Comfort”, “Sport” and “Sport Plus.”

But there’s also an available air suspension exclusive within the segment. It includes a leveling system and height adjustment with the ability to rise as much as 1.57 inches for a total of just over nine inches of ground clearance.

While the car looks understandably like a baby Macan, it also exhibits future styling bound of other products. Before the official unveiling, Porsche wasn’t shy about showing the car uncovered except for its lights. That’s because the headlamps use the new four-point LED design seen on the Sport Turismo Concept first shown in Paris. It also shares a similar tail light design to the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid supercar.

Despite being a downmarket product for the brand, Porsche says it isn’t compromising the high-quality cabins its customers have come to expect. Just like every other Porsche product, the Macan is built in Germany in a new arm of the company’s Leipzig plant — a 500 million Euro investment by the brand.

A multi-function sports steering wheel is standard and – just like the tail lights – is based on equipment found in the 918 Spyder.

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