Why Is Porsche Making the Next Macan Front-Biased?
If you’ve followed Porsche over the years, you know the brand has always been about rear-driven performance. For more than nine decades, every Porsche—whether it was a sports car or an SUV—sent most of its power to the back wheels. That’s not just tradition; it’s the secret sauce behind the way a Porsche handles. So, when word got out that the 2028 Macan successor would be Porsche’s first front-drive-biased model, jaws dropped across the enthusiast world.
So, what’s behind this dramatic shift? The answer is a mix of business reality and changing consumer demand. Porsche’s profits took a nosedive—down 67 percent in the first half of 2025, according to company financials. The culprit? Sluggish sales of the Macan EV (just under 26,000 units sold in that period), a cooling Chinese market, and new U.S. tariffs. In short, the EV Macan didn’t catch fire with buyers, and Porsche needed a quick fix.
That’s why the company is fast-tracking a new gas-powered Macan, codenamed M1, for a 2028 launch. But here’s the twist: to save costs and speed up development, Porsche is borrowing Audi’s Quattro Ultra all-wheel-drive system and the Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC)—the same architecture that underpins the latest Audi Q5. The result? For the first time, a Porsche SUV will default to front-wheel drive, only sending power to the rear when traction slips.
How Will This Affect the Macan’s Driving Experience?
Let’s be honest: front-biased AWD isn’t what made Porsche famous. In fact, most performance enthusiasts see it as a step backward. Rear-biased systems, like those in the Cayenne and current Macan, deliver sharper handling and a more playful feel—traits that have always set Porsche apart from rivals.
With the Quattro Ultra system, the front wheels do most of the work, and the rears only join in when needed. It’s a setup you’ll find in plenty of mainstream crossovers, from the Audi Q5 to even a 2010 Ford Flex. Sure, modern electronics can mask some of the inherent understeer and make the car feel lively, but physics is physics. The driving purists out there will notice the difference.
Still, Porsche has a knack for working magic with shared platforms. Remember the first Cayenne? Critics scoffed, but it ended up handling better than any SUV had a right to. There’s a chance Porsche engineers will sprinkle some of that old magic on the M1 Macan. But if you’re a diehard who lives for tail-happy corner exits, you might want to temper your expectations.
Is Porsche Sacrificing Its Identity for Profits?
It’s a fair question, and not just for Porsche. We’ve seen this story before with BMW, Mercedes, and Acura—brands that once built cars for enthusiasts, only to pivot toward mass-market appeal and fatter margins. The temptation is obvious: shared platforms and parts slash costs, and front-biased AWD is cheaper to build and more efficient for everyday driving.
But there’s a risk. Porsche’s reputation was built on a certain kind of driving experience. If the new Macan feels too much like its Audi cousin, or worse, like any other crossover, the brand could lose some of its hard-earned cachet. That said, the market is shifting. Most buyers in this segment care more about comfort, tech, and badge prestige than lap times.
What About the Competition and the Broader Market?
Porsche isn’t alone in facing these pressures. Across the industry, automakers are rethinking their EV strategies as demand cools and government incentives wane. According to a 2024 report from the International Energy Agency, global EV growth is slowing, especially in the U.S. and China. Gasoline and hybrid SUVs still make up the lion’s share of sales, so it’s no wonder Porsche is hedging its bets.
Meanwhile, rivals like BMW and Mercedes have already embraced more front-biased platforms in their compact SUVs. The difference is, Porsche has always managed to inject a bit more soul into its vehicles—even when sharing bones with the Volkswagen Group. Whether that’s still possible with the new Macan remains to be seen.
What’s the Real-World Impact for Buyers?
For most Macan buyers, the shift to a front-biased AWD system might not be a dealbreaker. The majority use their SUVs for commuting, errands, and the occasional road trip—not track days. If the new Macan delivers on comfort, tech, and brand prestige, it’ll probably sell just fine. Plus, the move could mean a lower starting price or better fuel efficiency, both of which are big selling points in a tough economy.
But for the enthusiast crowd, this change stings. The Macan has long been the “driver’s choice” among small luxury SUVs, and a front-biased setup could dull that edge. If you’re the type who cares about steering feel and chassis balance, you might find yourself looking elsewhere—or holding onto your current Macan a little longer.
What’s Next for Porsche and the Macan?
Porsche is walking a tightrope here. On one hand, it needs to stay profitable and relevant in a rapidly changing market. On the other, it risks alienating the very customers who made the brand what it is. The company’s leadership insists the new Macan will still “feel like a Porsche,” but only time—and a few test drives—will tell.
The big takeaway? Porsche’s next Macan isn’t about perfection—it’s about smarter adjustments. Start with one change this week, and you’ll likely spot the difference by month’s end.