2020 Macan Turbo Gets a New Attitude for 2020

New powertrain and increased power are at the heart of the new (improved) Macan Turbo S. 

The Porsche Macan Turbo returns for the 2020 model year with more swagger and more muscle. It has a quicker acceleration, a higher top track speed, and improved braking ability.

The 2.9 liter twin-turbo V6 engine makes 434 horses and 405 lb-ft of torque. It can go 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, or 4.1 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package. This is a 0.3-second improvement from the 2018, with or without the Sport Chrono package.

Also higher is the track speed of 167 mph, an increase of 3 mph. The same engine is also used in the Cayenne and Panamera model lines and replaces the 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 used in the previous Macan Turbo. As with other Macan models, power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive.

There’s more standard equipment and several performance-focused items. They include Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB), which offer an improvement in both stopping power and aesthetics over the brakes of the preceding model. This brake system premiered with the third-generation Cayenne models. Brake rotors coated in an ultra-hard layer of tungsten carbide reduce brake dust by up to 90 percent and provide sharper a response to pedal input from the driver. A Sport Exhaust system also joins the list of standard performance equipment, further elevating the level of emotional engagement that this model offers. 20-inch Macan Turbo wheels are also standard, as is the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) dampers. Optional height-adjustable air suspension with optimized rolling pistons and new shock absorber hydraulics, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV +) and the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) are available as extra-cost options.

An exclusive front fascia with three large air intakes, Sport Design side Skirts and Sport Design exterior mirrors in body color differentiate this model, as do dual strip LED fog lights above the left-front and right-front air intakes. LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) are standard equipment. The same revised rear light design that characterizes the rest of the Macan model line is also incorporated in the new Macan Turbo along with a redesigned fixed rear roof spoiler specific to the Turbo model.

Inside, the interior includes an elevated level of standard equipment relative to the rest of the model line. An Alcantara roof liner, 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats with Memory Package and a 665-watt, 14-speaker Bose Surround Sound system are also included as standard. As with other new Macan models, a 10.9-inch full HD touchscreen offers the latest version of Porsche Communication Management (PCM), which includes Porsche Connect Plus, adding an LTE telephone module, an integrated SIM card and a slot for an external SIM card, as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot and a one-year subscription to numerous Porsche Connect services including connected navigation. A Multifunction GT Sport steering wheel is also available as an option. Starting with the 2020 model year, the Macan also offers Qi inductive charging. This feature is included in the Smartphone Compartment, which is optionally available on all Macan models.

The 2020 Macan Turbo hits U.S. dealerships in the fall starting at $83,600.

S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.