2023 Porsche Macan All Electric

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AUTO TV

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Published on July 11, 2021 10:14:31 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uALEATiltsY

Duration: 1:20

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The all-electric Macan is ready to be tested on the road: after initial testing and development on the proving grounds of the Porsche Development Center in Weissach, the highly-camouflaged next-generation prototypes of the compact SUV are now leaving the Porsche premises for the first time. “Testing in a real-life environment is now getting underway – one of the most important milestones in the development process,” says Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development, at Porsche AG. 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.

Digital development and testing not only saves time and costs, it also enhances sustainability by preserving resources. Instead of real vehicles, the engineers use digital prototypes – computational models that accurately replicate the properties, systems and powertrains of a vehicle. There are 20 digital prototypes for the purpose of simulation in a number of development categories, such as aerodynamics, energy management and acoustics. “We regularly collate the data from the various departments and use it to build up a complete, virtual vehicle that is as detailed as possible,” explains Dr. Andreas Huber, Manager for digital prototypes at Porsche. This allows previously undiscovered design conflicts to be swiftly identified and resolved.

The aerodynamics specialists are among the first engineers to work with a digital prototype. “We started with a flow-around model when the project first started about four years ago,” reports Dr. Thomas Wiegand, Director of aerodynamics development. Low aerodynamic drag is fundamental to the all-electric Macan with a goal to providing a range suitable for everyday use, including longer trips. Even minor airflow enhancements can make a huge difference. The engineers are currently using simulations to fine-tune details such as the cooling air ducts. The calculations not only take into account different arrangements of the components, they also reflect real-life temperature differences.