Porsche Style head discusses Macan EV design process ahead of unveiling

Ahead of the unveiling of the all-new Porsche Macan in Singapore on January 25, the head of Porsche Style Michael Mauer has provided some insights into the design process of the electric SUV.

Mauer says the Macan is the first Porsche model that the brand is electrifying from an existing established product identity.

He says every new sports car has to be very clearly recognisable as part of the Porsche product family and the model in question, but also has to be perceived as ‘the new one’. 

Mauer believes that this visual consistency is critical for the Porsche brand. He says striking the right balance between “quintessentially Porsche” and “innovative” is a tricky proposition at times.

New powertrain poses challenges

The switch from an internal combustion engine to an all-electric powertrain in the Macan posed a challenge for the Style Porsche team while offering new possibilities. 

“The technical requirements of the car are always absolutely fundamental,” Mauer says. 

“This is considered very early in the process with the packaging – the arrangement of various components in the car. The packaging is critical for getting the basic proportions right – the classic Porsche fly line would not be feasible with just any arrangement.”

The electric powertrain offers new levels of flexibility yet poses challenges 

“Removing the bulky engine block allows us to enhance the distinctive shape of the bonnet. At the same time, the battery is still a rather large component that requires a lot of space and could disturb the defining width-to-height ratio. And of course, aerodynamics plays a big role in terms of the range of an electric sports car,” Mauer says.

The success of the close collaboration between designers and aerodynamics engineers is clear. With a drag coefficient of 0.25, the all-electric Macan is one of the most streamlined SUVs on the market.

Porsche has decided not to distinguish its electric models completely from its combustion-engine sports cars. 

“Porsche remains Porsche – even an electric Porsche is a sports car in its segment. From this standpoint, it’s only logical that we’re not abandoning our Porsche design DNA,” Mauer says.

The chief designer is certain that this is also clearly recognisable from the first all-electric SUV developed by the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer: 

“The new Macan is also very clearly a Porsche and a Macan at first glance. We have fundamentally kept the proportions that define what a sports car in this segment embodies for Porsche. The design has been refined both inside and out – the new model has an even sportier and more dynamic vibe,” Mauer says.