Porsche is just hours away from revealing its first-ever electric Macan, but photos of the SUV have leaked online.
Posted to Instagram by Wilco Blok, the pair of images reveal an evolutionary design language for the new-generation SUV, which sits on an entirely new platform called the Premium Platform Electric.
The new Macan, depicted in a distinctive shade of purple, appears larger than the outgoing model and is recognisable as an EV through the lack of a conventional grille or exhaust outlets.
Up front there’s new split-level lighting, while down back, the tailgate is more steeply raked than that of the current car and features what appears to be a badge that reads “Macan4”.
As has become typical of modern Porsches, there’s a slim full-width lighting assembly at the back.
Sketches of the upcoming electric SUV were released a few days ago in the lead-up to its launch.
In an interview with Porsche’s media site, Michael Mauer, the company’s head of design, revealed the new Macan will have a “minimalist mode” for the instrumentation display, which will only show elements which are “crucial for driving”.
We presume this will be something similar to the Night Mode offered in the first-generation Saab 9-5, which blacked out everything except the current speed and emergency warnings, but updated to include modern conveniences, such as navigation instructions.
Under the skin, the Macan is the first production car to be based on the Platform Premium Electric (PPE) jointly developed with Audi. PPE will also serve as the basis for the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron crossover, and A6 e-tron sedan and wagon.
In an earlier series of teasers, Porsche confirmed the Macan will be available with a rear-biased dual-motor electric powertrain with the latest generation of “permanently excited PSM motors”. In the most powerful variant, total system output will be exceed 450kW/1000Nm.
Although a range estimate has yet to be revealed, the Macan EV will be available with a 95kWh (net) lithium-ion battery pack, an 800V electrical architecture, and will support DC fast charging up to 270kW and AC charging speeds up to 11kW.
Thanks to an active aerodynamics system that includes active cooling flaps on the front air intakes, variable elements on the underbody, and an extending rear spoiler, the Macan EV will have a coefficient of drag as low as 0.25.
Although some markets will continue to sell the first-generation Macan, launched way back in 2013, alongside the new electric-only second-generation model, Australia will retire the original version around the time the new crossover becomes available.
MORE: Everything Porsche Macan
