The Porsche Macan compact SUV will soon get electric propulsion, and the German marque has subjected the car through virtual development and physical endurance tests.
As the electric Macan prototypes were driven on virtual roads, and on the asphalt inside and outside proving grounds of the Porsche Development Center in Weissach, Germany, they are said to cover 1.8 million miles (2.9 kilometers) of journey.
“Testing in a real-life environment is now getting underway--one of the most important milestones in the development process,” Porsche Executive Board for Research and Development Member Michael Steiner said.
"By the time the production version of the all-electric Macan celebrates its world premiere in 2023, it will have covered some 1.8 million test miles worldwide in varying conditions. The prototypes are also able to incorporate the experience gained from many miles of testing – driven in a virtual space," Steiner explained.
Porsche said that virtual prototypes can be combined with real-world scenarios.
A virtual electric Macan was recreated in what the manufacturers call a "seat box." Not only does the seat box simulate the car's interior and performance, it also recreates the driver’s environment.
“Simulation allows us to assess displays, operating procedures and the changing influences during a journey from the driver’s point of view,” Fabian Klausmann of the Porsche Driver Experience development explained.
This allows all interaction between driver and vehicle to be studied down to the last detail, enabling selective optimization even before the first physical cockpit has been built, Porsche added.
In the real world, the electric Macan is brought under the extreme of climatic and topographical conditions, includes tests such as the charging and conditioning of the high-voltage battery, which has to meet very rigorous standards.
The first physical prototypes of the car were built based on the data obtained from the simulations.
“Like the Taycan, the all-electric Macan, with its 800-volt architecture, will offer typical Porsche E-Performance,” Steiner promised, citing development goals such as range suitable for everyday use, high-performance fast charging capabilities, and repeatable best-in-class performance figures.
Steiner also asserted: “The all-electric Macan will be the sportiest model in its segment.”
This will be the first Porsche to be built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) planned for 2023. Porsche said it will remain flexible for the transition to pure electromobility. “Demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, but the pace of change varies considerably across the world," Steiner said.
He added: "That’s why we’re going to launch another conventionally powered evolution of the current Macan in the course of 2021. The updated combustion-engined Macan models will be offered alongside the all-electric Macan in the future to meet different customer demands.
Until it is launched, however, the all-electric Macan still has millions of test miles to cover — both in real life and virtually."
Photos from Porsche
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