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Uprated Performance Package model lifts the Macan Turbo's game to an even higher level

What is it?

Those chaps at Porsche tend not to do things by halves. While some manufacturers have been known to slap a couple of badges onto their cars, inject a couple more horses and pronounce: "Behold, our new Fandango Edition", Porsche usually goes a bit further. Here, then, is the new Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package. "A 'package', you say, not a Turbo S?" That left us a little befuddled too, especially considering this is a stand-alone model and not simply an add-on kit. 

There's also Turbo S-style substance to the Performance Package, starting with a decent slug of extra power. A few software tweaks to the regular Porsche Macan Turbo’s 3.6-litre V6 has it cranking out another 39bhp, giving a total of 434bhp. As an aside, you may be interested to know that is exactly the same output as the 2.9-litre V6 makes in the new Panamera 4S, and a good indication, so we’re led to believe, of where the engine for the next-generation Macan Turbo will come from.

Macan pp 2984

For the Performance Package, there's also 37lb ft more torque, albeit spread across a marginally narrower rev range. The higher outputs all add up: just under half a second has been slashed from the standard Macan Turbo's claimed 0-62mph time, bringing it down to 4.4sec. Part of its improved acceleration stems from the standard Sport Chrono pack - normally an option on Turbos – which adds both launch control and more extreme driving modes.

Power without control is a recipe for misadventure, of course, so there are chassis upgrades, too. The Performance Package comes with PASM adaptive dampers and a 15mm drop in ride height. Air springs remain an option - reducing the ride height by just 10mm when fitted - and the front brakes have also been beefed up with larger grooved discs clamped by six-pot calipers. Lastly, you get a switchable sports exhaust. 

What’s the premium over the standard Turbo? A whisker over £5500, but if you factor in the added kit, that works out to be roughly £3000 for the engine and chassis upgrades.

What's it like?

So, we bet you’re thinking it’s a real humdinger with all that added zip? Hmm, how can we put this? We’re not sure. That’s probably not the answer you were expecting, but it’s the truth. You see, the co-ordinates for our test drive were 66 30 14.21N and 25 43 45.81E, putting us somewhere in Finland and the Arctic Circle. The sub-zero temperatures and snow-covered roads meant we’d have struggled to deploy 34bhp, and even with four-wheel drive and a set of winter boots, the Macan couldn’t begin to show off its newfound oomph or cornering aplomb.

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Macan pp 2988

What it did was demonstrate how easy it is to manage 434bhp in a two-tonne car with very little grip. After stretches of public road that were largely frictionless and arrow straight, we wound up at a private test facility. Here a slalom course had been laid out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Macan’s traction management system - everything from the PSM stability control to the torque vectoring between all four wheels.

As you’d expect, things stayed relatively neat and tidy with PSM on, even with a bit of aggression thrown at the steering and throttle. You could feel the systems nibbling individual brakes, modulating the throttle and shuffling power via the multi-plate clutch from the rear to the front wheels. It was all highly impressive, but hardly a revelation. 

Yet, as we began dialling back the restraints, the Macan’s underlying controllability was revealed. Switching to PSM Sport was the first stage on this journey, giving you a long leash but not one you can hang yourself with, pulling you back from the brink of quite jaw-dropping angles. The next stage was to turn everything off. And still the Macan was the definition of deftness.

Macan pp 2996

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As you turn in, a lift of the throttle and jab of the brakes shifts the weight forwards, allowing the front tyres to bite and start you turning. As you give it some gas with a good bit of lock on, the rear sweeps around gently. In these conditions, it's best to leave the Sport Chrono set to Comfort so there's less spikiness to the throttle; this, along with the accurate, nicely weighted steering, helps you to manage the slides and keep the Macan dancing through the cones like Torvill and Dean.

There's not much else we can say, really, other than the Macan rode well over snow, the engine sounded pleasantly fruity and the brakes did a fine job considering the circumstances. 

Should I buy one?

So there it is: by no means a definitive review, but at the very least one that ascertains that despite its power hike, the Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package has lost none of the standard model's driveability. 

A £5500 premium for the power and equipment upgrades doesn’t sound unreasonable, and the fact that you can carve amazing shapes in such slippery conditions without coming a cropper bodes well for this car's on-road balance. At this early stage, it looks like those chaps at Porsche have done a top job. 

Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package

Location Finland; On sale Now; Price £68,073; Engine V6, 3604cc, twin-turbo, petrol; Power 434bhp at 6000rpm; Torque 443lb ft at 1500-4500rpm; Kerb weight 2000kg; Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic; 0-62mph 4.4sec; Top speed 169mph; Economy 30.1mpg (combined); CO2/BIK tax band 217g/km, 37%; Rivals Alpina XD3, Audi SQ5 Plus

John Howell

John Howell
Title: Senior reviewer

John is a freelance automotive journalist with more than a decade of experience in the game. He’s written for most of the big car mags, not least as a road tester for Autocar and as deputy reviews editor for our sister brand, What Car?. He was also the features editor at PistonHeads and headed its YouTube channel.

Cars, driving and machines are in his blood. When he was barely a teenager he was creating race-bale racetracks on his family’s farm – to thrash an old Humber Sceptre around. It broke regularly, of course, which meant he got a taste (and love) for repairing cars. That’s why he eschewed university, choosing instead to do an apprenticeship with a Jaguar dealer. That’s where he built up his technical understanding.  

After that he moved into high-end car sales, selling Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris and Maseratis through the franchised network. But it was a love of writing and appraising cars that, eventually, led him to use his industry experience to prise open the door of motoring journalism. He loves cars that exceed their brief in some way. So he finds as much pleasure in testing a great, but humble, hatchback as he does sampling the latest Ferrari on track. Honest.

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Comments
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Cobnapint 20 December 2016

So they invited you to test the new performance pack

On icey roads. Great stuff........
Ski Kid 20 December 2016

price £68073 as tested £85000 ?

will be interesting to see a test on a basic one in the uk and if it gets anywhere near the official fuel consumption of 30.1 mpg as reported ,would hazzard a guess it will be more like 20mpg in reality so the diesel will still show itself as the top choice.Otherwise a Discovery Sport and Boxster would make a better purchase for most buyers.
beechie 20 December 2016

Zzzzzz

[quote=Ski KidOtherwise a Discovery Sport and Boxster would make a better purchase for most buyers.[/quote]

Not if you'd really prefer a Macan Turbo Performance Package it wouldn't.

Ski Kid 20 December 2016

The Boxster would be more fun

A friend has a Boxster GTS and with Performance pack and is a great car for going around the bendshe thought the Macan way below this standard.But I know what you mean beechie if you only want one car it is a good compromise.
Marc 20 December 2016

Ski Kid wrote:

Ski Kid wrote:

will be interesting to see a test on a basic one in the uk and if it gets anywhere near the official fuel consumption of 30.1 mpg as reported ,would hazzard a guess it will be more like 20mpg in reality so the diesel will still show itself as the top choice.Otherwise a Discovery Sport and Boxster would make a better purchase for most buyers.

You'll never see a test of one because the chance of Porsche selling one is near enough zero, so any test isn't comparative. 25 - 27 should be realistic.

madmac 20 December 2016

This would be really good if

This would be really good if it were a car and 500kg lighter-the perfect Porsche rival to the M3,C63,and RS4.I know the world is moving to SUV,s but I'd rather have an Alpina B3 Allrad
5wheels 20 December 2016

silly child

madmac wrote:

This would be really good if it were a car and 500kg lighter-the perfect Porsche rival to the M3,C63,and RS4.I know the world is moving to SUV,s but I'd rather have an Alpina B3 Allrad

They do have a whole long list of cars based on the venerable 911 to choose from. This is a whole new perfect ball game - and NO ONE is anywhere near it

Marc 20 December 2016

5wheels wrote:

5wheels wrote:
madmac wrote:

This would be really good if it were a car and 500kg lighter-the perfect Porsche rival to the M3,C63,and RS4.I know the world is moving to SUV,s but I'd rather have an Alpina B3 Allrad

They do have a whole long list of cars based on the venerable 911 to choose from. This is a whole new perfect ball game - and NO ONE is anywhere near it

Agreed, the Macan is superb. We had one for weekend test, sadly my wife chose an F Pace, good but no Macan.

madmac 21 December 2016

5wheels wrote:

5wheels wrote:
madmac wrote:

This would be really good if it were a car and 500kg lighter-the perfect Porsche rival to the M3,C63,and RS4.I know the world is moving to SUV,s but I'd rather have an Alpina B3 Allrad

They do have a whole long list of cars based on the venerable 911 to choose from. This is a whole new perfect ball game - and NO ONE is anywhere near it

Then tell me where is the compact sports saloon then?