Zero to 60 Porsche Macan S

Porsche purists cringed a dozen years ago when the parents of the 911 gave birth to the Cayenne, a real sport utility vehicle. Oops, they did it again. The all-new Macan S, although  smaller, bears a striking resemblance to its four-door sibling. In the land of SUVs, Porsche now

has a pair of vehicles that are setting new standards in performance, handling and comfort.

Pronounced ma-CAHN, the name is Indonesian for tiger, a moniker the car earned thanks to its powerful twin-turbo engine and agile frame, which is inspired by the Audi Q5 SUV. Coupled with Porsche’s all- wheel drive technology, the Macan is ready to pounce no matter what the terrain with an impressive 0 to 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds. The top model in Porshce’s compact SUV line, the Macan Turbo, can hit a top speed of 164 mph with a 0 to 60 mph of 4.6 seconds. However, this model will set you back more than $72,000— almost 50 percent more than the S version, which has a MSRP of $49,900.

Many of the design elements have been lifted from other Porsche sports cars and enhanced for the Macan, giving it a unique look and striking curb appeal. Macan’s designers implemented a flat and broad profile and wraparound hood giving the vehicle an assertive presence on the road. The profile’s gently sloping roofline gives the SUV a sense of elegance in contrast to the powerful driving dynamics contained within.

From the inside, Porsche’s high-quality workman ship prevails as expected. In the cockpit, your eyes are immediately drawn to the standard multi-function sports steering wheel. Based on the 918 Spyder’s system, the SUV’s electromechanical power steering system features the responsiveness of a sports car. Bluetooth compatibility, infotainment and on-board computer with 4.8-inch color display pair with the ergonomically positioned paddle shifters to ensure competent and focused driving in all conditions. The sizeable cabin is also fitted with a 14 speaker Bose surround sound system that puts out 545 watts of pure listening pleasure whether you are driving on road or off.

When it entered the SUV market, Porsche may not have kept its most fervent sports car fans happy, but with the addition of the Macan to the Cayenne, the German automaker has successfully positioned themselves as a powerful and desirable option in SUVs for those who

don’t want to sacrifice performance, size or style.

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