Remember when Porsche introduced the Cayenne? The world scoffed, snorted and derided the idea that a sports-car manufacturer could bring out an SUV. But then it was released, and it was very good, and it sold by the bucketload around the world.
In 2014, the Macan appeared, which represented the entirely logical business case for producing a Porsche-branded crossover SUV, or CUV, or whatever acronym you choose to use. Once again, the world scoffed, snorted and felt faintly insulted that Porsche should build a car for ferrying small children to school.
But Porsche released it anyway, and what do you know, it was excellent; a taut, sharp machine with serious dynamic capabilities that could comfortably hold four adults and their stuff (or even a couple of baby seats), yet still put a smile on the face on road or track.
Now we have the Macan GTS – an inevitable addition to the range that follows the now-traditional Porsche recipe of making the standard car a bit more zingy. As with the other GTS models in the portfolio, the Macan has been rejigged to give it more dynamic focus and, hopefully, more smile-inducing potential. It fits into the range between the pokier-than-standard Macan S and the sledgehammer-like Macan Turbo, which highlights the aim of making it sporty.
Under the bonnet is an upgraded version of the 3.0L, twin-turbocharged V6 found in the Macan S. It has 20hp more thanks to a reworked induction system and higher boost, taking the total output to 360hp. It also sports 40Nm more torque, and sits 15mm lower on reworked active suspension. The bigger brakes are taken from the Turbo model to give extra stopping power. Visually, the GTS is the first Macan to feature new LED headlights and lots of external black bits – it comes as standard with the Macan’s Sport Design package, replete with smoked lights and 20-inch black alloy wheels. Inside, sports seats hug the occupants more tightly than in the standard car.
On the mountain roads of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where the GTS has its international press launch, it proves excellent fun, with a pointy front end, and fast, if slightly light, steering, but plenty of rear grip that inspires confidence at pace. The suspension, though stiffer than the Macan S, is beautifully damped so that bumps in the road are absorbed with no drama, even through corners. The engine is a peach and nicely torquey, too – maximum twist is available from just 1,650rpm – which minimises the effect of the faint turbo lag that’s apparent when you mash the throttle. Our test car is fitted with the optional Sports Chrono package, which lets you switch the car into different modes, and the lag is reduced further in Sport and Sport+ modes, but never completely disappears.
It’s no deal-breaker, though – pushing on the GTS is genuinely engaging, with the excellent PDK gearbox swapping cogs quickly and smoothly, and the sport exhaust burping out addictive pops and crackles when you lift off the throttle.
The GTS wouldn’t be a performance car without launch control, and it’s quite an experience. Left foot on the brake, floor the throttle, wait for the revs to be automatically held at 4,000rpm and a “Baarpbaarpbaarp” to emanate from the sports exhausts, then simply sidestep the left pedal. The rear end dips, the nose sniffs the heavens, and boom, the Macan heads for the horizon at a rate of knots. The all-wheel drive system means no scrabbling for grip at the back – the Michelins simply hang on to the Tarmac, and fling their cargo forward. The Macan weighs a not-insignificant 1,955kg, but 360hp and superb traction mean progress is swift, hitting 100 kph in five seconds dead.
So what’s not to like? Well, most of the praise written above should be followed by the phrase “for an SUV”. But that’s doing the GTS a bit of a disservice. Yes, if you push it really hard, then pure physics come into play – it’s heavy, and sits higher than a proper sports car, so it does roll a bit more than purists would demand, even though the standard Active Suspension Management absorbs the worst of the lurching. And yes, the steering could be a little more textured and feelsome, but the days of hydraulic power assistance are gone; this electric system is one of the best around.
The new infotainment system grates a bit – the Apple Play interface is surprisingly unintuitive, but that’s a relatively small complaint.
Overall, the GTS is a practical, comfortable, luxurious machine that’s now even more fun than the original, and it sets a high benchmark for Jaguar’s forthcoming F-Pace S to match. If family commitments mean a 911 or Cayman isn’t an option, the Macan GTS is a purchase that you can make with a look of smug triumph.
motoring@thenational.ae
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