Porsche Macan’s Most Dynamic Drive Yet With Clever Parking Tech
▼ Summary
– The Porsche GTS badge signifies a model fine-tuned for a focused, “Porsche-like” driving experience, historically applied to cars like the 911 and Boxster.
– The new all-electric Macan GTS is positioned as the most dynamic and emotional model in the Macan range, essentially a slightly detuned version of the Turbo with 571hp.
– It features key performance specifications like Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, air suspension, and rear-wheel steering, making the heavy SUV handle like a lighter sports car.
– The car introduces new technology, including advanced parking assistants and the ability to pair Bluetooth gaming controllers to its passenger display.
– The review concludes the Macan GTS represents a “Goldilocks” model, offering a compelling blend of performance, technology, and driving dynamics at a lower price than the Turbo.
For driving enthusiasts seeking the ultimate blend of performance and practicality in an electric SUV, the Porsche Macan GTS carves out a compelling niche. It distills the essence of the brand’s celebrated GTS heritage, traditionally reserved for the most focused and engaging models, into a high-riding, battery-powered package. While debates about electrification and traditional performance badges may continue, Porsche positions this variant as the most dynamic and emotionally resonant Macan available, a claim that holds considerable weight after time behind the wheel.
The GTS essentially serves as a slightly more restrained version of the range-topping Turbo model. It employs the same sophisticated dual-motor setup, generating a formidable 571 horsepower when launch control is activated, compared to the Turbo’s 639 hp. Sharing the same 95kWh battery pack and advanced 800V electrical architecture, it promises up to 362 miles of range and can recharge from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 21 minutes. The compelling question becomes whether the extra power of the Turbo justifies its significantly higher price tag, especially when the GTS delivers such a complete and thrilling experience.
Specification is where the GTS truly shines, offering what many will consider the ideal factory configuration. It comes standard with distinctive styling cues like flared wheel arches, unique side skirts, and optional Carmine Red paint. The cabin features Race-Tex elements for a sporty ambiance. Crucially, it includes a host of performance-enhancing technologies as standard: Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), adaptive air suspension, and rear-axle steering. While some options can be added to lesser models, the GTS is expertly tuned from the outset with these systems harmonized, saving the buyer from complex configuration choices.
The result is an electric SUV that defies its substantial 2,395-kilogram weight. On winding mountain roads, the Macan GTS feels agile and communicative. The rear-axle steering works wonders to shrink its perceived size, allowing for surprising nimbleness through tight corners, while the powerful brakes provide immense confidence. Acceleration is explosively quick yet perfectly manageable. Porsche has also engineered synthesized drive sounds for the GTS, which vary by driving mode, from silent in Normal to a purposeful, bassy burble in Sport Plus, adding an aural layer to the engaging drive.
Beyond pure dynamics, the Macan GTS introduces several technological innovations. A new feature allows Bluetooth accessories, like a PlayStation or Xbox controller, to be paired with the optional passenger display for gaming. More notably, it debuts advanced parking and maneuvering aids. The system can automatically search for and execute parking maneuvers, and it can be ‘trained’ to remember complex sequences for later use. A new reversing assistant records the last 50 meters of a journey and can autonomously retrace the path, a boon for navigating narrow European lanes or tricky driveways.
Ultimately, the Porsche Macan GTS finds a sweet spot in the electric performance SUV segment. It may not offer a vast financial saving over the Turbo, but it delivers nearly all the performance with arguably greater balance and focus. Porsche engineers have crafted a model that rides with composure, attacks back roads with genuine dynamism, handles track duty with competence, and reverts to a quiet, comfortable cruiser with ease. It successfully translates the brand’s race-bred philosophy into the electric era, proving that driving enjoyment remains paramount. For those who prioritize engagement behind the wheel but require the versatility of an SUV, this is the Macan to choose.
(Source: TechRadar)
