Porsche Prototype of New Gas‑Powered Macan Replacement Spied

A modified Audi Q5 test mule was spotted at Germany's Nürburgring circuit. The vehicle, built on the Q5's chassis, is believed to be Porsche's new gas‑powered Macan replacement, internally referred to as Project Octan.

The mule has a widebody with foam blocks under the nose, along the sills and rear, and fender flares that widen the track. Large air intakes are mounted at the corners and in the center of the bumper, and quad exhaust tips from a previous Macan suggest a V6 engine.

Porsche plans to build the new SUV on the Premium Platform Combustion that also underpins the Q5 and A5. The model will be offered with inline‑four and V6 engines, and a plug‑in‑hybrid option is expected.

The company says the new Macan will be revealed in 2028 and sold alongside the Macan EV. Porsche expects the model to contribute noticeably to sales and profitability by 2029, once series production ramps up.

The first‑generation Macan was discontinued because it could not meet new emissions and safety regulations. Porsche had introduced the Macan Electric as its sole replacement, but has now pivoted to develop a new gas‑powered version.

The prototype has already been tested at the Nürburgring, where the track’s challenging layout provides data on handling and stability. The Audi RS Q5, sharing the same platform, may offer insight into performance capabilities.