Porsche Macan SUV to get four-cylinder engines

The Porsche Macan SUV will be sold with four cylinder engines “in the foreseeable” future, according to company engineers. That will make the compact SUV the first Porsche model with a four-pot engine since the 968 model ended production in 1995.

The four-cylinder petrol and diesel options are expected to be offered from 2015. The entry-level petrol side is tipped to be a turbocharged 2.0-litre unit with 280bhp. Also set for introduction is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel in a price-leading Macan Diesel. Both models will compete with higher-spec versions of the somewhat smaller Range Rover Evoque.

Porsche says the overwhelming aim of the project was to provide the Macan with “sports car” responses, claiming ‘best in class brake performance and steering precision’ as well as “very responsive” acceleration and gear-shifting abilities in addition to a more car-like driving position.

The launch Porsche Macan SUV models for international markets include the Macan S (which gets a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo 335bhp engine ) and the Macan Diesel S which gets a 254bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel 0-100kph in 6.3sec.The Macan Turbo range-topping model has a 394bhp 3.6-litre V6 twin turbo and a 0-0-100kph  time of 4.8sec. Continued..