Hot as chilli - that's how the new Porsche Macan GTS drives

Deeper, darker, faster. The GTS is the new member of the Macan family. GTS stands for Gran Turismo. And this is how this Porsche drives. Comfortable like a modern SUV, but poisonous like a sports car.

• The Macan is the most successful Porsche model.
• With the GTS, the Swabians are launching the fourth variant on the market.
• Almost as good as the Turbo, but cheaper by 14,000 euros.

For beer lovers it is the favorite song at the Oktoberfest: "One, one is still fine!" We can translate: A measure is still possible. One could almost think that the Zuffenhausen sports car manufacturers from Porsche have been following this song for many years. No other manufacturer has so many derivatives of a single model . With the Panamera there are 21, with the Cayenne it is still 10. With the Macan, however, only three. Until now. Because one, one is still going in. The new GTS joins the gap between S (354 hp) and Turbo (440 hp).

Engine and power: the Porsche Macan GTS has that

Three models, one engine. A revving 2.9 liter V6 biturbo serves as the basis for all three. In the new GTS, the engine builders let out 380 HP, so the Macan sprints from 0 to 100 in 4.7 seconds . Only 0.4 seconds slower than the Turbo, and there is not much missing even at top speed: The GTS manages 261 kilometers an hour, the Turbo 270 things. Does that justify the additional cost of almost 14,000 euros?

In terms of driving, the GTS is in any case an almost prescription luxury product. The chassis is 15 millimeters lower than in the basic model . The steel suspension comes with a completely revised and more robust damper system. And the stabilizers have also been re-tuned.

A real Porsche in terms of driving dynamics: the Macan GTS is already 15 mm lower as standard, with the optional air suspension it is another 10 mm lower.

© Porsche

Hot as chilli: this is how the Porsche Macan GTS drives

With this and with the powerful torque of 520 Nm , which is available for a pleasantly long time between 1750 and 5000 rpm, the Macan, which weighs just under two tons , can be maneuvered smoothly and precisely through the curves . In the Sport plus mode, the GTS becomes hot like chilli. If you then treat yourself to the air suspension, which lowers the GTS by another 10 millimeters, you almost have the feeling of sitting in a real sports car. The ride in the Macan * GTS is orchestrated by the standard sports exhaust system. It rumbles discreetly when driving calmly, if need be, it hits the timpani tremendously, when you take the accelerator it sprinkles happily.

You really stand out in Miami blue with the Porsche Macan. Even in front of a submarine that anchors here at the port of Lisbon.

© Bö gel

So that you don't overshoot the target with so much power and driving fun, the Macan has also been given stronger brakes, the discs are 360 ​​mm in front, 330 in the rear . And if that's not enough for you - Porsche * has plenty of aces up its sleeve here too: from the well-known and proven ceramic brake to the Porsche Surface Coated Brake , which is built for special loads and coated with tungsten carbide. Brings more friction and reduced brake dust by up to 90 percent.

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Porsche Macan GTS with a somber color theme

The appearance of the GTS is also sharp. The 20-inch RS Spyder design wheels are striking. They are black and so is the continuous color motto . Perhaps the designers sang an old Rolling Stones hit while working on the Macan: "I want to see it painted, painted black: Black as night, black as coal." Black are the rims, the struts in the front grille, the side blades with GTS lettering, the exhaust tailpipes. Even the LED headlights were colored dark.

Many dark elements shape the appearance of the Macan GTS. It starts with the black 20-inch rims and continues as a design motto through the entire vehicle.

© Porsche

And the motto continues in the interior. A lot of black Alcantara - the brushed aluminum looks particularly cool, of course in black. The interior is as it has been since the Macan facelift. The touchscreen in the center console is 10.9 inches in size , and operation is easy once you are used to it. The many buttons and switches on both sides of the center console are no longer up-to-date and therefore take some getting used to. One can assume that this armada will be eliminated in the next Macan. Especially since it should be purely electric.

Large infotainment screen, far too many switches on both sides of the center console. One can assume that the next Macan generation will clean up here.

© Porsche

The Macan was also upgraded digitally. Various vehicle functions can be called up with the Porsche Car Connect app . One of them should make car thieves sit up and take notice. Because the Macan can be tracked down at any time via mobile phone. A nice feature even for absent-minded contemporaries who have once again not noted down the parking level.

Also interesting : The new Jaguar F-Type - driving fun for a small budget?

Conclusion on the Porsche Macan GTS

With the GTS model, Porsche closes a gap that has never been seen before. As a Turbo light, however, it is justified due to the price advantage and the rather marginal difference in performance. And if you like black, you should definitely strike. "No colors anymore I want them to turn black!"

Datasheet Porsche Macan GTS

Read also : These seven cars impressed the most in 2019.

Rudolf Bögel

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