Porsche confirms petrol Macan return in 2028
NZ autocar
Porsche will bring back a petrol-powered Macan in 2028, with chief executive Michael Leiters outlining a future line-up that gives buyers a choice of combustion and electric models.
The revived petrol SUV will sell alongside the electric Macan.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Leiters rejected suggestions that he is an EV sceptic, saying Porsche needs to rebuild its petrol offering while continuing to develop electric cars.
“We have to recover our petrol strategy, but I’m very positive that once we have the Macan with the petrol engine, we have a very balanced offer for our customers on electric and petrol cars,” he said.
The Macan announcement signals another adjustment to Porsche’s electrification plans. The company had moved the SUV towards an electric-only future, but Leiters sees continued demand from customers who still want a combustion engine.
That doesn’t mean every Porsche will receive both powertrain options. Leiters also stressed the need to control development spending and avoid duplicating investment in petrol and electric vehicles within the same segment.
The challenge is to give each model a clear role while matching the line-up to how quickly customers are adopting battery power.
Porsche will make greater use of Volkswagen Group technology to support its electric-car programme, helping contain the cost of developing new models.
The battery-electric 718 remains in development, keeping electrification on the agenda for Porsche’s smaller sports-car range.
The 911, however, will continue with combustion power. Leiters again ruled out a fully electric version of the company’s best-known model, reinforcing Porsche’s longstanding position on its flagship sports car.
Electrification already features in the 911 Carrera GTS, whose hybrid system combines a combustion engine with electric assistance.
Porsche has also ruled out a plug-in hybrid 911, citing the additional hardware and the need to avoid making the car bigger to accommodate it.
For buyers, the emerging strategy means a broader spread of powertrains across Porsche’s range: an electric 718 in development, petrol and electric Macans planned to sit alongside each other, and a 911 that retains its combustion engine with hybrid assistance in selected versions.
