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Several of Porsche’s most popular models will soon be cut from the line-up in Australia, as the German sportscar company prepares for a new generation of electric vehicles.
Porsche Cars Australia will stop taking orders for petrol-powered Macan and 718 Boxster and Cayman models at the end of May 2024 as the German brand continues its journey towards 80 per cent of its fleet being electric by 2030.
A Porsche Cars Australia spokesperson confirmed that this generation of its best-selling medium SUV, as well as its entry-level sports car, would be the last to feature internal combustion.
“The last opportunity for customers to individualise a Macan or 718 [with an internal-combustion engine] at an official Porsche Centre is the end of May 2024,” said the spokesperson.
Porsche will replace its best-selling vehicle in Australia with an all-electric Macan, due here by the end of the year.
In what is a bold move, the new Macan EV is significantly more expensive than the outgoing petrol models.
MORE: Porsche not worried about replacing Macan top seller with $40,000-dearer electric car
The Macan 4 EV (electric vehicle) will be available from $133,700 in Australia, while the Macan Turbo starts at $180,100. That’s around $40,000 more than the current entry-level petrol-powered Macan, which starts at $93,800 before on-road costs.
While Porsche confirmed that Macan EV will be in Australia by the end of the year, no date has been given for when the new-generation Porsche 718 will arrive locally.
The Porsche Macan accounts for almost 50 per cent of the brand’s sales in Australia. Last year, Macan sales totalled 2925, some 48 per cent of the 6062 Porsches reported as sold in 2023.
A Porsche Cars Australia spokesperson told Drive it was already holding a good number of firm orders for the Macan EV with even more expressions of interest.
Porsche Cars Australia CEO Daniel Schmollinger has previously said he is confident the Macan EV will be a success in Australia.
MORE: GT editions likely to live on with electric Porsche 718 Boxster, Cayman
“With this new Macan, we have a strong belief this car will fit the market,” he told local media last month.
“We started three years ago with the Taycan, and obviously there were some question marks if the Taycan was the right fit for the market, especially in Australia that is petrol-oriented – let’s call it like this.
“The success we saw with the Taycan over the last three years was actually outstanding. It exceeded our expectations.
“We [have] reached roughly 10 per cent share within our model range which is, from a global point of view, an outstanding result. Based on this, we have strong beliefs the Macan Electric will follow this path to be also very successful.”
The 2025 Porsche Macan is due in local showrooms later this year.
2024/2025 Porsche Macan Australian pricing (petrol and electric)
- Macan petrol – $93,800
- Macan T petrol – $97,200
- Macan S petrol – $117,500
- Macan GTS petrol – $141,700
- Macan 4 electric – $133,700 (new)
- Macan Turbo electric – $180,100 (new)
All prices above exclude on-road costs.
The post Petrol-powered Porsche Macan, 718 Boxster and Cayman axed to make way for electric models appeared first on Drive.
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