Perils Of Success

How do you improve on a product that’s already the fastest-selling vehicle you’ve manufactured in your 70-year history? It’s an unenviable challenge that Porsche faces with the latest version of its best-selling SUV – the Macan.

- Ishan Raghava 

Success can often be a double-edged sword – even more so if it’s in relation to a product that’s exceeded all expectations since its launch. Before I go any further, let’s rewind a bit. The year was 2002, and Porsche traditionalists – who are very loyal to the brand – were up in arms about Porsche’s first SUV, the Cayenne.

Stunning Success

Back to the present day, and the sales figures of Porsche’s line-up today is something that was unimaginable two decades ago. Sure, there’s the 911 and the Boxster / Cayman duo, but the real growth of Porsche over the past two decades came from the Cayenne and the Macan. Over the past 5 years, the Macan alone sold over 400,000 units.

Now, back to my original predicament. You see, the success of a product like the Macan can be very tricky, for it’s easier to fall than to rise even higher. And therein lies the challenge, to improve something that doesn’t have much room for improvement – that’s a difficult task indeed!

Nip & Tuck

First, as one would expect, there are a few design updates to bring the Macan in tune with the latest design trademarks of the brand. So, we’ve now got LED headlights with LED daytime running lamps that resemble the design of the latest Cayenne and the 919 racing car. However, the big change is the massive tail light that runs across the width of the rear end of the car. I love the single taillight look – it gives the Macan a very distinctive visual identity.