Porsche fills out Macan EV lineup with rear-wheel drive model

Porsche announced a new rear-wheel drive version of the forthcoming Macan electric SUV, as well as a higher-powered, lighter-weight 4S model. Porsche said deliveries are expected to begin later this year.

When it was announced earlier this year, Porsche said the Macan EV would come in two trims: the Macan 4 and the Macan Turbo, both of which sport dual motors for all-wheel drive. The company is now adding two more versions in the hopes of widening its appeal.

The RWD Macan will only have one motor located in the rear axle. It’s the same motor as the one used in the Macan 4, with an output of 250kW, or 335 horsepower. Porsche says it will use a 480-amp pulse inverter with silicon carbide transistors “for increased efficiency.” While using Launch Control, it will get up to 265kW, or 355 horsepower. With 415 pound-feet of torque, the RWD version can hit zero to 60mph in 5.4 seconds and will have a maximum track speed of 136mph, Porsche says.

The RWD Macan will also have a 100kWh battery, 95kWh of which will be usable — same as the 4 and Turbo. It will also be the lightest model in the Macan lineup — 243 pounds lighter than the Macan 4, to be exact — which could help it get more range than the other versions. Porsche said it would disclose EPA-estimated ranges at a later date.

Meanwhile, the 4S will slot between the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo as a new higher-powered variant. It will share its front-axle motor with the Macan 4 and Turbo. The rear-axle motor is brand new, with a 600-amp silicon carbide inverter. Together they put out 330kW (442hp), including a short power overboost of up to 380kW (509hp). With Launch Control, the maximum torque on the 4S is 578 pound-feet. The Macan 4S can accelerate from zero to 60mph in 3.9 seconds and has a top track speed of 149mph. 

Porsche said the Macan EV will start at $77,295, which includes a $1,995 delivery fee but excludes tax, title, and dealership charges. The Macan 4S will start at $86,895, including the delivery fee.

The news of the new variants comes as sales of Porsche’s only EV in the US, the Taycan, have cratered, falling 48 percent year over year in the second quarter. A refreshed Taycan with better range and improved performance metrics is expected to arrive later this year.

Correction, July 16th: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the Macan 4S as having only a single motor. It will have two.