Porsche’s next combustion-powered Macan has been caught on camera during hot-weather testing in Spain, and the latest prototype is finally starting to look less like an Audi. The development mule still wears the Q5’s basic body structure and lights, but a new front grille ditches the Audi’s familiar mesh treatment, signalling that Porsche-specific hardware is gradually replacing the placeholder parts.
The upcoming Macan will ride on the VW Group’s Premium Platform Combustion architecture, the same underpinnings used by the latest Audi Q5. That means buyers can expect a familiar range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 engines, plus the Macan’s first-ever plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is slated to deliver at least 62 miles (100 km) of electric range. Porsche is expected to push performance beyond Audi’s hottest Q5, the 362 hp SQ5, with the punchiest Macan variants aiming considerably higher. The current Macan GTS, still on sale in America despite production ending last month, already produces 434 hp from its bi-turbo V6.
Porsche recently said it wanted to reduce the number of variants to boost profitability, but Audi Q5 Sportback development mules have also appeared in Spain alongside the more upright SUV versions. That raises the possibility Porsche might exploit the hardware to create a more rakish Macan derivative. A coupe-style companion would hardly look out of place in today’s premium SUV market, though it remains speculation for now.
The combustion Macan’s return marks a significant reversal for Porsche, which originally expected the electric Macan to replace the petrol model altogether. Slower EV adoption, particularly in the American market, triggered an urgent rethink. The outgoing gasoline Macan has already disappeared from Europe because of cybersecurity regulations, and US stocks will soon run dry, much to the dismay of buyers who have chosen the ICE SUV over the EV by a wide margin this year.
Once dealer inventory is exhausted, fans will face a long wait until the new combustion Macan debuts in 2028, potentially as a 2029 model. In the meantime, Porsche’s testing team is expected to shift away from Audi-based mules, meaning real prototypes should start appearing soon. The Spanish sighting confirms development is progressing on schedule, with the company preparing a model that must balance its sporting heritage with the commercial realities of a market that still wants internal combustion.