[GH85Carrera]

Porsche aims to hit crossover gold again with compact Macan
LOS ANGELES -- People thought Porsche AG management was crazy when it decided a decade ago to veer away from a legacy of building only high-performance sports cars and develop a mid-sized crossover known as the Cayenne.

Turns out it was a great decision for Porsche's sales.

Porsche next spring will test the patience of true believers again when it begins selling the 2015 Macan, a compact crossover that likely will shift the majority of Porsche's volume from sports cars to people-haulers.

The U.S. market for small premium crossovers is projected to grow from an estimated 204,472 units this year to 289,202 units in 2015, IHS Automotive says, as new luxury buyers gain affluence and some crossover and SUV owners shift from larger to smaller luxury vehicles.

In addition to Porsche, Lincoln, Lexus and Cadillac are joining the rush to market compact luxury crossovers. Acura, BMW and Audi currently dominate the segment.

U.S. sales of the Cayenne hit a record 15,545 units in 2012, helping Porsche to overall record volume of 35,043 last year. And the brand, part of Volkswagen Group, has already topped its 2012 U.S. sales tally with two months to go in 2013.

The Macan will be built at Porsche's $675 million Leipzig, Germany, plant, on a line set up to build 50,000 units a year.

U.S. sales of the Macan are projected to total 10,185 in 2014 and 16,438 in 2015, IHS Automotive estimates.

Pricing will start at $49,900, plus $995 destination, for the Macan S.

The Macan shares some platform underpinnings with the Audi Q5, including its 110.5-inch wheelbase. However, this is not a badge-engineering experiment: The Porsche is longer, wider and lower; and the vehicles have different powertrains and suspensions.

At the unveiling here Tuesday, Porsche discussed only the two twin-turbo V-6 engines available at launch -- a 3.0-liter that generates 340 hp with a 5.2-second 0-to-60 mph time and a new 3.6-liter engine that generates 400 hp and a 4.6-second 0-to-60 mph time.

However, Porsche executives previously disclosed that a four-cylinder turbo will be the base engine in many countries. That would be the first four-banger Porsche since the 968 coupe was offered in the early 1990s.

With that sort of power under the hood, Porsche's Traction Management all-wheel drive is standard. The system sends power from the driven rear wheels to the front axle when drive torque is required. Up to 100 percent of torque can be sent to the front wheels, but the rear axle is always coupled via a multiplate clutch.

Because the Macan is a Porsche, a "sport" button will increase its responsiveness from the engine, exhaust, suspension and PDK seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

But in the rare instance when someone might leave pavement, the Macan also can shift into "off-road mode" at the touch of another button, with throttle, clutch, shift-points and vehicle height automatically adjusted for better traction and ground clearance.

The Macan will offer three suspension grades, all based on a front five-link and rear trapezoidal-link design. The midgrade transmission offers electronically adjustable shock absorbers. The top grade includes an air suspension with leveling and height adjustment. Like most other Porsches, the Macan will offer "staggered" wheels and tires, with the rear 19-inch wheels being slightly wider than the fronts.

The Macan borrows many design elements from other Porsche vehicles, including the sloping roofline running behind the C-pillar and the shape of the air intakes, headlamps and taillights.

In terms of fuel economy measures, the Macan comes with auto stop-start and electromechanical power steering that uses energy only if steering input is registered. To reduce aerodynamic drag, the radiator vent flaps can be closed, while the underbody panels optimize airflow under the vehicle.

At the Los Angeles show, Porsche also unveiled convertible versions of the 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S.
Top-selling small premium crossovers

1. Acura RDX 36,872
2. Audi Q5 31,979
3. Mercedes-Benz GLK 25,980
4. BMW X3 22,884
5. BMW X1 21,407
6. Volvo XC60 16,685
7. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 9,128
8. Land Rover LR2 2,626
9. Infiniti EX/QX50 1,588

Note: U.S. sales through Oct. 2013