The Porsche Macan EV was supposed to mark the next step forward for the brand’s sporty compact SUV, but it appears the company isn’t ready to let go of internal combustion in the vehicle just yet. A recent report from Autocar suggests that Porsche is considering keeping gas engines around in the next-gen SUVs, a reversal from its previous discussions on the topic.
Autocar quoted an anonymous “senior Porsche insider,” who said that the Macan EV has been well-received, but the automaker is cautious about its long-term popularity. “The reception to the new Macan [Electric] has been positive, but we are yet to see its long-term performance.” They noted that Porsche is now considering an ICE Macan along with a “range of product scenarios.”
While the gas Macan isn’t cheap, the Macan EV’s price is likely giving some buyers pause. Its more than $75,000 base price makes it significantly more expensive than the Tesla Model Y and other competitors, though it’s surprising to hear that anyone expects a new Porsche to be a bargain.
The insider also said Porsche is studying Taycan sales, which dropped by almost half last year. “The downturn in Taycan sales highlights new market dynamics,” they said. “We cannot rely solely on traditional assumptions about consumer behavior.”
Despite that, around 30 percent of Porsche’s sales were hybrid or electric in 2024, which isn’t exactly nothing. Even if the gas Macan sticks around, the writing is on the wall, as Porsche is working on an electric next-gen 718 sports car and has said it wants 80 percent of its sales volume to be electric by 2030.
[Images: Porsche]
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