Porsche Macan Electric now available in Malaysia

First seen at the Sepang Circuit during the Porsche World Road Show in June this year, the Macan Electric has now made its official debut in Malaysia. While it is not the first fully electric Porsche model (which was the Taycan), the Macan is the sportscar brand’s first fully electric compact SUV.

Porsche Malaysia will offer the Macan in 4 versions – the Macan,  Macan 4, Macan 4S, as well as a Macan Turbo. As with other EVs imported to Malaysia, the Macan Electric is exempted from duties (until the end of 2025). The Macan Electric is priced from RM430,000 – RM635,000, excluding insurance.

The Macan’s design has sharper proportions than its big SUV brother, the Cayenne, but clearly identifiable as a Porsche. Short overhangs combine with a wheelbase 86 mm longer than the previous generation, giving a sportier stance with the shallow pitch of the bonnet and the strongly pronounced front wings.

The two-part headlights have Porsche Design DNA with the flat upper light units with 4-point daytime running lights embedded in the wings. The main headlight modules, with optional matrix LED technology, are positioned slightly lower in the front end. Strongly pronounced shoulders give the rear a muscular look. The Porsche logo now sits in the centre of the sculptural 3D light strip on the rear door.

An optional off-road design package is available for all versions. In combination with the adaptive air suspension, the off-road design package increases the ground clearance by 10 mm to 195 mm when in the ‘Normal’ setting.

Thanks to the Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) with active and passive elements, the new Macan is one of the most streamlined SUVs on the market with a Cd of 0.25. This is especially important for an EV as lower wind resistance means better range and more efficient use of energy.

The PAA system includes the adaptive rear spoiler and active cooling flaps on the front air intakes. Air curtains below the headlight module, the low-slung front end, and flexible covers on the fully sealed underbody optimise the air flow. At the rear, Gurney flaps and the diffuser blade increase aerodynamic efficiency.

The SUV sits on the Premium Platform Electric which was developed together with Audi. It has 800V architecture and comes with a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery that takes 21 minutes (with a 135 kW DC power supply) to charge from 10% to 80%.

AC charging can be done with a supply up to 11 kW but would be at a slower rate, so it would be more suitable for overnight charging. While driving, energy (between 200 kW and 240 kW) can be recuperated via the electric motors. With a full battery, the claimed range is up to 641 kms (590 kms for the Macan Turbo).

The Macan Electric with only rear-wheel drive is the entry version, with 265 kW (360 ps) when Launch Control is used. Next up is the all-wheel drive Macan 4 Electric with two motors producing a total of up to 300 kW (408 ps)/650 Nm when in overboost with Launch Control.

The Macan 4S Electric produces up to 380 kW (516 ps), also when using Launch Control, while the Macan Turbo Electric goes up to 470 kW (639 ps)/1,130 Nm. This top version has a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.3 seconds and top speed of 260 km/h.

The electronically-controlled Porsche Traction Management operates about 5 times faster than a conventional all-wheel drive system and can respond to slip within 10 milliseconds. In addition, the all-wheel drive distribution is governed by the selected driving programme. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, an electronically-controlled differential lock on the rear axle, also contributes to the traction, driving stability and lateral dynamics of the Macan Turbo.

Just as with the Cayenne, Porsche’s first SUV, the engineers have made sure that the new Macan has genuine Porsche driving dynamics and a characteristic steering feel. This is achieved with the standard air suspension equipped with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) electronic damping control, which can also be added to the steel spring suspension.

PASM now also features shock absorbers with two-valve technology. Thanks to the more expansive damper map, this results in a wider spectrum of comfort and performance. This makes the differences between the driving modes even more tangible.

For the first time, the Macan has optional rear-axle steering, with a maximum steering angle of 5 degrees. This enables a compact turning circle, reduced by one metre to 11.1 metres, in urban traffic and when manoeuvring. It also enables greater driving stability at higher speeds, assisted by the consistent and precise front-axle steering for which the brand is known.

Like the exterior, the Macan’s interior is also recognisably that of a Porsche model. Though the body is compactly sized, there is a sense of spaciousness within as the width of the cockpit is emphasised by an integrated black panel. The rising design of the centre console heightens the impression of a low and performance-focused position in the vehicle, along with the sports seats. At the same time, large windows give a light and airy feel to the interior space.

An LED light strip is integrated into the trim strip of the cockpit and doors. It acts as both ambient lighting and a communication light. Depending on the situation, it provides information or warnings – such as for greetings, charging processes or in conjunction with the driver assistance systems.

In addition to the modern digital user interfaces, there are also select analogue control elements for functions that drivers may more frequently want to adjust. With the electrification of the Macan, Porsche has introduced a completely new display and control system. This includes an instrument cluster with a 12.6-inch curved display, a 10.9-inch central display, a 10.9-inch passenger display, and a head-up display with augmented reality technology.

The Driver Experience has also been upgraded: it now comprises a welcome animation, an even more modern look and feel, and the new Themes app, which can be used to adjust the background colour of the displays and the ambient lighting to match the exterior colour, with 12 colours to choose from.

The new-generation infotainment system is based on Android Automotive OS. Included as standard, the Porsche Communication Management takes computing performance to a new level. The intelligent Voice Pilot feature executes voice commands promptly and provides useful assistance, including finding the right route with optimal charging stops.

Electrification has led to increased luggage space in the Macan. Depending on the version and equipment fitted, the capacity behind the rear seat is up to 540 litres (cargo mode). In addition, there is the ‘frunk’, a second luggage compartment under the bonnet with a capacity of 84 litres. This amounts to 136 litres more than the previous model. If the rear seat backrest is folded down completely, the rear luggage compartment capacity increases to up to 1,348 litres.

Besides customisation options, Macan customers in Malaysia have features such as Power Steering Plus, electrically-opening charging cover, Surround View with Active Parking Support, 4-zone climate control, a 230V power outlet in the cargo compartment and a premium BOSE Surround Sound System.

Every new Macan sold by Porsche Malaysia has an extensive maintenance and warranty package for the first 2 years. The warranty on the battery pack is for 8 years (or maximum of 160,000 kms). Owners who plan on keeping the SUV for a long period can purchase extended warranties for up to 15 years.

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