PORSCHE MACAN ELECTRIC

Can the Macan retain its prized driver's SUV status in electric guise?

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Throughout its history, Porsche has been an expert at taking platforms and components from the wider Volkswagen and Audi family and imbuing them with a certain magic that no one else can replicate. The original Porsche, the 356, has its roots in the Beetle, and the Porsche 968 Clubsport goes back to the 924, which was intended as a VW with an Audi-derived engine.

One of Zuffenhausen's biggest commercial successes, the Macan, was loosely based on the Audi Q5 but reached heights of driver appeal the latter car could only dream of.

For the new and electric-only Macan, Porsche isn't waiting around, and played an integral part from the start in developing the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture together with Audi.

As the second-generation Macan takes over from the first with a short period of overlap in their production runs, it has quite a job on its hands. For the Macan Electric to maintain its petrol predecessor's hard-won success will be a big challenge.

That will come down to the sales results. In this road test, it will need to prove it's a real Porsche, one that's distinct from its Audi Q6 E-tron sibling model. We're testing the range-topping 630bhp Macan Turbo.

DESIGN & ENGINEERING

PROS Looks like a Porsche; 800V architecture and fast charging

CONS Lack of ICE Macan successor will leave many buyers in the cold