The original Macan shared more with its corporate sibling, the Audi Q5, than Porsche would ever admit. But, being a brand that cared deeply about its perception and the quality of its products, Porsche made sure to dump a load of reengineering to ensure the Macan would still drive like a Porsche, despite its mid-size crossover shape and pedestrian bones.
As a result, roughly two-thirds of the 2014 Porsche Macan was totally new underneath, compared to that year’s Q5. Aside from the retuned suspension and reshaped chassis, the biggest upgrade was the introduction of a Porsche-only powertrain setup, which incorporated a dual-clutch transmission that sent 80 percent of the power to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions. According to a report from Autocar, that number could flip from rear to front, erasing the one thing that made the Macan so fun to drive.
The report, which cites unnamed sources, claims the next-generation gas Macan—codenamed M1—won’t have that same Porsche magic. In fact, it seems like it’ll be more like a reskinned Q5 than ever before. From Autocar:
The M1 will be twinned with the third-generation Audi Q5 and sit on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture of the pair’s Volkswagen Group parent.
It will also adopt the similarly sized Q5’s Quattro Ultra drive system. But instead of heavily re-engineering it to offer a rear-biased four-wheel drive system—as Porsche did with the first Macan—it will instead be used largely unmodified for cost reasons.
So, unlike the outgoing ICE Macan’s Porsche Traction Management set-up, which is engineered to send most of its power to the rear wheels, drive in the M1 will primarily be sent to the front axle, with the rear wheels engaging only when sensors detect impending traction loss, marking a radical shift in Porsche’s engineering philosophy.
If Autocar’s reporting is accurate, this would be the first time in Porsche’s 94-year history that it would offer such a front-biased system. Porsche wouldn’t confirm anything to The Autopian when reached via email. A spokesperson told us only that a new ICE-powered SUV was in the cards, nothing more.
Anyone who knows cars knows a front-biased all-wheel drive system is more suited to comfort and efficiency than driving fun. But that’s not to say it can’t be made fun. Look at the Golf Rs and the Focus RSs of the world. Back in July, CEO Oliver Blume said the M1 would be a “very, very typical Porsche for this segment.” I don’t doubt Porsche engineers can create something great, even with these constraints.
But as for whether the M1 can live up to the outgoing Macan, I’m not so sure. Admittedly, I have lofty expectations. The gas-powered Macan GTS is one of the best-driving crossovers I’ve had the pleasure of wheeling. It’s second only to the Ferrari Purosangue, a V12-powered supercar that’s only sort of shaped like a crossover.
The front-biased system, tightening costs, and a sped-up development time (Blume said the SUV would be subject to a three-year development cycle, versus Porsche’s usual five-year cycle) mean engineers have to do a lot more with a lot less. Right now, it’s probably best to remain cautiously optimistic.
To see Porsche rely more heavily on the Q5’s design isn’t terribly surprising. Five years ago, the M1 wasn’t even in the cards for the automaker. Back then, the brand expected the Macan EV would take over sales of the combustion variant permanently, with 80 percent of its global sales being electric vehicles by 2030. Obviously, that’s not happening. So it had to pivot quickly. And, reportedly, this front-wheel drive-biased AWD crossover is the result.
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I’m a bit confused and admittedly haven’t done a ton of research on the B10 generation A/Q5 (I don’t think there’s anything but first drive reviews out there anyway), but it’s on PPC which is just an evolution of MLB. Meaning it’s still a longitudinal layout even though it’s using a DSG instead of the ZF8 now. So I wasn’t sure if Quattro Ultra (read: Haldex based) had gone fully FWD biased, even on the S models. I looked at the PR from Audi on the B10 generation and based on that I wouldn’t call it FWD biased. Disconnecting the rear axle when nothing interesting is going on ≠ connecting the rear axle when you’re giving it the beans. I tried finding an SSP for this new gen to get the details but doesn’t look like they’re easy to get a hold of yet.
I also found multiple sources, including a quote from Audi over on thedrive, that says the B10 S5 retains the same Quattro system (read: Torsen) as the B9 generation.
Based on that I would find it quite surprising if Porsche did the opposite. Maybe the base Macan will have a Haldex system mirroring the Q5, but I doubt the Macan S with the turbo V6 (and presumably rest of the drivetrain from the S cars) will ditch the Torsen setup used in the SQ5 for a Haldex setup.
I still think mechanical, Torsen based AWD is better, but considering how well Ultra works in the RS3 I highly doubt anyone would ever notice a difference.
Tl;dr: Until there’s more info, I think calling it “front biased” may be inaccurate, I doubt that anything above the base Macan will use Haldex, and considering how well Quattro Ultra works the whole thing is a nothingburger.
Porsche was always bland and boring. Now it’ll be bland, boring, and front-biased.
Fits perfectly.
Wow they have ruined the mythical 11 year legacy of their entry level crossover.
As a (current-gen) Golf R owner, it’s lovely, but I wouldn’t appreciate spending Porsche Macan money and getting largely the same experience. And yes, I know my Golf is transverse-FWD, while the Audi setup is a nose-heavy, front-biased longitude-AWD setup…but you expect that from Audi, and not from Porsche.
This just seems like another example of enshitification. Automakers cost-cut the everloving crap out of their products, convince you they’re more premium than they were—even when they most emphatically are not—and then charge you more money for the privilege.
Meh. My neighbour’s kept bimbo will never notice on her way to yoga class. As long as Porsche makes the badge big enough, they will do fine.
I mean, that’s fair, but the prior Macan was a very good driver’s car. It served the people who actually cared how their cars stopped, went and turned as much as it did the “bimbos.”
That won’t be the case anymore.
True, but where I live (DC) the Macan is a favorite of enthusiasts who want something big enough to be practical with the family, but small enough to navigate and park in an urban environment. I know there are a lot of Macan owners who just want something comfortable with a prestige badge status, but you might be surprised at how many enthusiasts look at the Macan as an accomplished adult’s hot hatch.
A common mistake on this site is conflating enthusiasts with volume sales. 😉
Yeah pretty much as expected. Might still be good to drive but far less likely to justify it’s price tag. However Porsche actually has a pretty long history of taking VW/Audi bits and doing surprising things with them…
Enshitification takes no prisoners, and Porsche has been watering down its products for ages at this point. It’s a game of seeing how much they can get away with when it comes to charging more and offering less. Unfortunately their non sports car customers are fucking idiots and they can get away with A LOT.
I’ve never personally driven one, but I do understand that there was some brilliance in the current Macan. They’re ridiculously, absurdly overpriced but the general consensus is that they’re in contention for the most fun to drive and engaging crossover that exists, as our new friend Brian is hinting at here.
You’re gonna pay out the ass, the competition is going to be cheaper, faster, and better equipped, and the average 911 owner will scoff at you…but despite all of that I’ve always understood the appeal of a Macan. It’s more or less the gentleman’s choice in that class and has enough Porsche DNA to be worth the up-charge if you’re a sicko. For what it’s worth I have nearly bought one on multiple occasions but eventually decided not to once the ownership costs were factored in.
At the end of the day I get it…but go through all that for a lazy front wheel drive rebadge of an Audi that’s not even the best in its class? Absolutely not. Frankly the fact that the current base engine is an EA888 is insulting, and I’m sure by the time this arrives you’ll be paying $90,000 out the door if you want any color other than black or white and an actual leather interior.
I’m sure the country club doctors and attorneys of the world will still happily lease them so their platinum blonde wives don’t need to be embarrassed in the Catholic school pick up lines, but the enthusiast cred that the Macan had will be long gone. In most cases making cars for enthusiasts is a bad strategy…but it’s always been most of Porsche’s business.
The BEV Macan is DOA too. It looks like a rolling egg, weighs 5,000 pounds, has meh range, and costs as much as a house. Real brain genius shit from VAG. I wonder if the panic ICE 718 is going to be shoving a flat four in the new hideous Audi concept…
So essentially this is a last-minute Stellantis-style panic button “holy shit we screwed up big time” type replacement.
My wife used to have an SQ5 and that thing was such a let down. Sure, it had power and sounded wonderful, but it felt so unathletic. No steering feel and it really hated the idea of downshifting when you gave it throttle. Hopefully that’s not going to be the case with the new ICE Macan.
My mom has a 2022 SQ5. If you want a big GT that puts comfort first then I think it’s great. It’s also a nice contrast to the other German sporty crossovers that ride like absolute shit. The X3M/M40i are apparently absolutely brutal in that department. I also agree that it sounds great. That V6 is better than it gets credit for.
…but if you want engagement or handling look elsewhere. It’s amazing at one thing-cruising at 100 MPH in comfort while allowing you to bring your friends. If that’s what you want you’ll be quite pleased. But if you want to throw your crossover around on backroads it’s not gonna give you the fizz.
But honestly I think that’s why Audi sells a fair amount of them. If buyers were realistic with themselves about what they actually need probably 90% of the people wanting a sporty luxury SUV for $70,000 would be quite pleased with it. But that’s not the world we live in lol.
Now that you mentioned it, it did ride great. Hers did have the fancy air suspension option which probably had a lot to do with that.
I guess my issue with it is something with an “S” on the model, it didn’t seem very “S”. She loved it though when she had it though so I guess that is what really matters. But when that CPO warranty was up, it was time to say bye bye, that thing had too many issues for a low mileage vehicle.
I get it, the S badge conjures up memories of an electric blue V8 manual S4 for me. I never got to drive one, but it was a frequent choice of mine in video games. Back when, you know…Audis were cool.
Anyway since I’ve spent the last 3+ years driving a car that rides god awful in the city I’m definitely starting to get the “big comfy missile” appeal. I drive my mom’s every now and then and I usually enjoy it…but I’m always happy to have actual steering feel when I get back into my Kona N.
I’m really not sure why none of the German manufacturers other than Porsche can figure out how to give you steering that doesn’t suck ass. That being said BMW’s is even worse. I once heard it described as feeling like it’s connected to a broomstick in a bucket of molasses and it’s a perfect description…
What’s funny is my mother-in-law has a previous generation CRV. I’ve driven it a few times and I wouldn’t say that has great steering by any means but I can at least *feel* what the front tires are doing more than the SQ5. Heck, I drive a current gen 330i and I would say the CRV’s steering probably even communicates better. I can actually feel the CRV load up when you turn the wheel!
I have the X3 M40i with adaptive suspension and it is wildly different than the X3M that I test drove. I would say the M40i is Teutonic firm, but still very comfortable, even on broken pavement. The X3M is unbearable on the slightest imperfections.
I also test drove the SQ5, and while I wanted something with a little more edge (and a B58), the Audi’s air ride was noticeably smoother than my M40i.
The post refresh G01 M40i is basically my platonic ideal of a BMW SUV, and honestly I think it’s probably the styling high watermark for the X3 overall. There’s just so much to like about it and the B58 is the ultimate trump card.
Honestly I’d have a hard time choosing an S58 over a B58. I get that it’s a great engine, but the B58 is bulletproof and the efficiency it can eke out is mind blowing for how powerful it is. The current M50i with the mild hybrid system is rated at 25/30. Four about 400 horsepower that’s unheard of.
It’s a shame they borked the G45s so badly because I’ll likely be looking in this class in a few years. The combination of the anonymous blob exterior with the rental car interior make it a non starter for me even with the B58. I’m not paying $65,000 for a car with a Hyundai interior.
…with that out of the way, I’m going to commit sacrilege and say that I find the new iX3 really appealing and that it’ll probably be higher on my list than the ICE X3. With an NACS port and 400 miles of range I’m running out of excuses not to try an EV…and BMW is actually quite good at the whole BEV thing/I assume it’ll be less trouble to own long term than an ICE Bimmer, but who knows.
100% agree with everything you just said 🙂
[3yrs from now]
“We are discontinuing the gas Macan because nobody is buying it”
Seems unlikely. More like ‘now we’re making a S5-based Porsche sedan, and an A3-based Porsche hatchback’ because everyone loves cheap cars with expensive badges.
How fast can you speedrun brand dilution? Mercedes and BMW seem to be racing each other in those stakes with their little FWD econoboxes.
Let me introduce for you… the new Porschessat.
Mercedes and BMW both have some heritage in the ‘econobox’ segment though. While it may have been a disaster in terms of stability when it initially came out, the A-Class was otherwise a master of engineering, and the culmination of plans that the company had been pursuing on-off for decades. Meanwhile, BMW probably wouldn’t be with us without the Isetta.
Apparently the A35 AMG is a really fun little car….and having driven a Mini based M Lite BMW I can assure you that it’s more enjoyable than one of those, because dynamically speaking the spicy FWD Bimmers are a fucking mess.
Oh I’m sure haha; When I first saw one I genuinely thought it was a Kia. A neighbour subsequently bought one, but theirs is much more distinctive for some reason. Maybe because it comes in a nice shade of purple? The only FWD BMW I’ve ever heard being complemented for its driving was the weird sub-M-lite ‘Ti’ warm hatch they sold for a while. Apparently those were actually kinda fun.
Porsche created the Beetle. Maybe not badged as such, but the initial Beetle-powered Porsches weren’t exactly huge powerhouses either despite positioning themselves as ‘high-end’.
They were not positioned as high end. They were positioned as stripped down sports cars. More frivolous in customer appeal.
But definitely with that edge of ‘brand snobbery’ beyond a lowly ‘Volkswagen’.
Quite the contrary. It seems like Mercedes-Benz and BMW have wisely realized that there’s no money in racing to the bottom of the market. They aren’t discontinuing their entry-level lines, but aren’t expanding them, either.
Well it’s too late, the cat’s out of the bag. And it’s a weird, weird world when somehow Mercedes and BMW each make a purpose-built mini-MPV yet Renault or Opel have long since pulled out of the segment, selling vans with windows instead.