2016 Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package first drive

Those chaps at Porsche tend not to do things by halves. While some manufacturers have been known to slap a couple of badges onto their cars, inject a couple more horses and pronounce: "Behold, our new Fandango Edition", Porsche usually goes a bit further. Here, then, is the new Porsche Macan Turbo Performance Package. "A 'package', you say, not a Turbo S?" That left us a little befuddled too, especially considering this is a stand-alone model and not simply an add-on kit. 

There's also Turbo S-style substance to the Performance Package, starting with a decent slug of extra power. A few software tweaks to the regular Porsche Macan Turbo’s 3.6-litre V6 has it cranking out another 39bhp, giving a total of 434bhp. As an aside, you may be interested to know that is exactly the same output as the 2.9-litre V6 makes in the new Panamera 4S, and a good indication, so we’re led to believe, of where the engine for the next-generation Macan Turbo will come from.

For the Performance Package, there's also 37lb ft more torque, albeit spread across a marginally narrower rev range. The higher outputs all add up: just under half a second has been slashed from the standard Macan Turbo's claimed 0-62mph time, bringing it down to 4.4sec. Part of its improved acceleration stems from the standard Sport Chrono pack - normally an option on Turbos – which adds both launch control and more extreme driving modes.

Power without control is a recipe for misadventure, of course, so there are chassis upgrades, too. The Performance Package comes with PASM adaptive dampers and a 15mm drop in ride height. Air springs remain an option - reducing the ride height by just 10mm when fitted - and the front brakes have also been beefed up with larger grooved discs clamped by six-pot calipers. Lastly, you get a switchable sports exhaust. 

What’s the premium over the standard Turbo? A whisker over £5500, but if you factor in the added kit, that works out to be roughly £3000 for the engine and chassis upgrades.

So, we bet you’re thinking it’s a real humdinger with all that added zip? Hmm, how can we put this? We’re not sure. That’s probably not the answer you were expecting, but it’s the truth. You see, the co-ordinates for our test drive were 66 30 14.21N and 25 43 45.81E, putting us somewhere in Finland and the Arctic Circle. The sub-zero temperatures and snow-covered roads meant we’d have struggled to deploy 34bhp, and even with four-wheel drive and a set of winter boots, the Macan couldn’t begin to show off its newfound oomph or cornering aplomb.