Porsche to reintroduce gas and hybrid Macan by 2028, reports magazine
Porsche Prepares Internal Combustion Return for Macan Lineup by 2028
Porsche has confirmed it will reintroduce internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid variants of the Macan by 2028, reversing its previous strategy to transition the popular SUV exclusively to battery-electric power, automobile-magazine.fr reported. The decision follows slower-than-expected demand for the electric model in North America, prompting the German manufacturer to develop a new combustion-powered successor currently undergoing initial testing under the internal codename “Octan.”
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The Tech TL;DR:
- Porsche will launch a new combustion and plug-in hybrid Macan by 2028 after dropping the original internal combustion model earlier this year.
- Early prototypes, codenamed “Octan,” are currently testing near the Nürburgring using heavily modified Audi Q5 bodies and wider track dimensions.
- High-performance variants are slated to share hybrid architectures with upcoming Audi performance models, targeting outputs up to 639 horsepower.
Porsche Returns to Combustion Macan After Slow EV Sales
Originally launched in 2014, the first-generation internal combustion Macan accumulated more than 800,000 sales globally across two major restyling cycles in 2018 and 2021. Porsche concluded production of that initial combustion run earlier this year, intending to let the electric Macan—introduced in 2024—carry the nameplate forward entirely on battery power. However, North American buyers have been slow to embrace the all-electric transition in the volumes executives anticipated, and automobile-magazine.fr reported that Porsche has consequently shifted course, scheduling the arrival of the newly engineered combustion and hybrid Macan in dealerships roughly two years from now.
Octan Prototypes Use Modified Audi Q5 Shells for Testing
Test mules for the “Octan” project have been spotted operating around the Nürburgring circuit in Germany. Rather than wearing final production body panels, the prototype utilizes an expanded third-generation Audi Q5 shell. The developmental mule exhibits distinct visual modifications, including protruding headlight clusters, dense polyurethane wheel arch extensions, and a heavily modified lower bumper. Triangular saw-tooth structures are bolted to the vehicle’s underbody to measure ground clearance metrics during aggressive track testing, indicating a lower ride height than the standard Audi Q5 platform introduced in 2025.
High-Performance V6 Hybrid Powertrains
Underneath the modified bodywork, the upcoming Macan lineup will feature four-cylinder and V6 powerplants alongside the brand’s first plug-in hybrid system for this model line. The performance flagship of the new combustion-backed range is expected to inherit its core hardware from upcoming performance offerings within the Volkswagen Group, specifically sharing architecture with the Audi RS5 and prospective Audi RS Q5 variants. This setup pairs a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine producing 510 horsepower with a 177-horsepower electric machine, yielding a combined system output of 639 horsepower and 825 Nm of torque. Quadruple exhaust outlets visible on the rear of the "Octan" test prototypes show the upcoming powertrain's mechanical focus.
