A weekend getaway with the Porsche Macan
I take my weekends seriously. So, I make an effort to take a day to get away from the busy metro and find a place that offers space and clean air to breathe.
Recently, I have been going to MinaAni in Silang, Cavite. It is a 700 square-meter small farm property being developed by my niece Natalia and her family primarily as a small farm and vacation place.
Last Saturday was no different. I spent the day at MinaAni watching as fruit trees were being planted and plans were being firmed as to what kind of housing structures would be put up. The dad of Natalia, my older brother Peter, is the architect.
Must-love drives
Although the traffic on that early Saturday morning was a bit heavy, I was sooo happy that I was at the wheel of the new Porsche Macan, which continues to evolve its current bestselling model with significant improvements and updates, redefining it with increased performance, a sharper design and a new operating concept.
The new Macan is the latest addition to Porsche’s lineup in the Philippines.
Of course, it was love at first start for the engine of the Macan and me.
My love continued from the sloping sports-car roofline, to the broad-shouldered rear, to its seamless taillight strip. The new Macan retains the distinctive Porsche look.
I noticed that the latest model’s redesigned front end and its body color emphasize its width. There are the lovely new LED headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), and the side blades, a characteristic feature of the nameplate, have been updated with a three-dimensional surface structure and are painted Lava Black as a standard.
What did not escape my notice was the newly designed rear section; the striking black diffuser has been extended upwards, resulting in an even sportier look.
The taillight strip with integrated four-point brake lights using LED technology remains an unmistakable Porsche design cue.
Attention to detail comes with the Macan in the Sport Design exterior mirrors with V-shaped bases, 19-inch wheels, and new 3D trim in front and at the rear.
What’s inside matters, too
The New Porsche Macan offers a substantially enhanced interior with a new designed center console. Its new operating concept now uses touch controls rather than buttons, and continues to offer many online functions and services as a standard. Controls and access to these functions are done through a 10.9-inch full HD touch display of the Porsche Communication Management.
As I sat in the driver’s seat, I noticed the shorter gear selector lever in the center of the clearly structured control module, and the multifunction Sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles.
The new comfort seats with electric 14-way adjustment for height, squab and backrest angle, and fore/aft position secure the driver and front passenger in place while remaining luxurious. All these added to the comfort of the long drive that morning.
Under the hood is a redeveloped 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine. Its low weight means reduced load over the front axle, leading to dynamic advantages.
Matched to the engine is the standard seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission, which ensures extremely fast gear changes to take place without these interrupting traction, and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel drive system, which has an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. The system enables power from the engine to be variably distributed between the drive axles, guaranteeing supreme traction, agile performance and safety even in adverse conditions. Further contributing in this regard is the Porsche Stability Management.
Drive to relax
The drive started early on a sunny morning, but that it did not bother me as I piloted the Macan. Come to think of it, nothing came between my thoughts and me as the drive of the Porsche SUV was truly a fun and relaxing one.
I liked the Porsche’s Sport Chrono package switch found in the new Macan. The newly designed Mode switch with Sport Response button on the steering wheel can be used to choose between four driving modes: Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. The Launch Control function enables optimum acceleration from a standing start, while the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) improves driving dynamics and stability, particularly on bends.
Also aiding in sharpening up the vehicle’s steering are the variable distribution of engine torque to the rear wheels and the electronically controlled rear differential lock.
It was a relaxing two-hour drive to Silang, Cavite, that morning.
Why did it take so long?
I took my time — taking the Porsche Macan on Aguinaldo Highway to Silang, the smaller streets while in Cavite, and then SLEX back to Las Piñas — just being able to feel the drive in this Sports SUV.
There is nothing about the Porsche Macan that I did not like, because, like every Porsche, it was clear that the new Macan is capable of pushing limits even further and delivering a thrilling drive — always.
Oh, maybe there was one thought on my mind as I drove — the rising prices of gas — and how, even though I thought of taking this SUV a bit further south — I did not.
For now, a drive to Silang, Cavite, was enough for me. The thrill of the drive in the Porsche Macan completed my weekend and made me one happy camper.
