2014 Porsche Macan: This is it!

Ahead of the 2013 Los Angeles Motor Show, the Porsche Macan's actual images and specifications have hit the interweb. The SUV, which will sit under the Cayenne, is aimed at garnering big volumes for the German sportscar brand best known for its 911 range of sportscars. German motoring magazine Auto und Motor Sport is carrying imagery and details of the 2014 Macan in its review of the crossover.  The imagery includes a side-by-side comparo with the Audi Q5, upon which the Porsche crossover is based. 

The Audi Q5's platform underpins the Macan and this is evident from the 2,807 mm wheelbase that the Macan shares with the Q5. While the size of the Porsche Macan is comparable to that of the Audi Q5, the sportier styling on the Porsche crossover has meant that the space inside the Macan is a bit of a squeeze. Engines and transmissions are the other items that the Macan shares with the Audi Q5. 

Entry level engine options include 2 liter turbo petrol and turbo diesel motors in 4 cylinder layouts. These motors represent a comeback for 4 cylinder engines in Porsche cars, nearly two decades after the 1995 Porsche 968s. The 2 liter turbo petrol engine outputs 220 Bhp-350 Nm while the 2 liter diesel motor outputs 201 Bhp-400 Nm.  The Macan S will be outfitted with a naturally aspirated V6, 295 Bhp petrol motor.

The Macan's top end petrol variant will feature a 3.6 liter V6 motor (395 Bhp-550 Nm) with twin turbo chargers while the range topping turbo diesel is a 3 liter V6 TDI motor good for 250 Bhp-550 Nm. A 7 speed DSG dual clutch automatic gearbox is standard, and so is an all wheel drive system. A hybrid version of Macan is said to be in the works and is likely to be launched sometime next year. Production of the Macan will commence in December with the first deliveries to begin early next year.

Competition to the Macan will come from the Audi Q5, the Range Rover Evoque and the BMW X3 crossovers. The Macan is due to be launched in India sometime next year. The Macan's elder sibling, the Cayenne is overwhelmingly popular when compared with other Porsche cars in India due to the SUV's suitability for Indian road conditions. A similar story could pan out with the Macan as well, given the crossover's high ground clearance and seating position. 

Via MacanOwnersClub