Porsche Considers Developing New Combustion Powered Macan SUV

Porsche’s big plan was to have the electric Macan seamlessly take the place of its gas-powered predecessor.

Except the landscape for EVs is a bit shaky right now—Porsche took it on the chin when Taycan sales nosedived by 49% in 2024. For a brand throwing money hand over fist at electrification, that’s not the news you want to hear.

Initial reception to the Macan Electric has been positive, but Porsche insiders aren't entirely convinced. "We are yet to see its long-term performance, given uncertain market conditions," one senior insider told Autocar.

The Macan has been a cash machine for Porsche since it hit the scene in 2014. Even last year, after being culled from European markets due to cybersecurity laws, the combustion-motivated Macan managed 64,000 sales.

Porsche isn't quite sure if the new electric Macan can shoulder the same load as effortlessly as its gas-powered sibling.

This isn’t the first time Porsche has hinted at rethinking its EV-or-nothing approach. Late last year, Porsche CFO Lutz Meschke acknowledged that internal combustion engines might stick around longer than anticipated. He even floated the idea that some planned EVs could see hybrid or combustion versions added to the model matrix.

Porsche already has plans to keep the gas-powered Cayenne alive well into the 2030s, even as it preps an all-electric version. According to reports, Porsche is seriously considering the same play for the Macan.

Keeping the ICE Macan around would make financial sense—Porsche has sold some 500,000 units during the Macan's 10-year career—especially since Porsche is in the middle of several high-stakes EV projects, including the electric 718 Boxster/Cayman and a three-row SUV.

If Porsche decides to give the gas Macan a stay of execution, it wouldn’t necessarily require a complete overhaul. One option would be to give it a facelift or tweak the current platform, much like it did with the Cayenne. There's also the new Audi Q5 platform that could serve as the foundation for an updated Macan. The current Macan is based on the first generation Q5 with significant Porsche tweaks.

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