Porsche's Combustion Macan Successor Takes Shape in Test Mule
Autocar reports a new test mule previewing Porsche's 2028 combustion SUV, which shares its base with the Audi Q5 but looks more aggressive.
According to Autocar, Porsche's successor to the combustion-engined Macan is starting to take visible shape, with a new test mule offering the first real hints of its design. The publication says the prototype's outward appearance matches the Audi Q5 closely, which is expected because the two vehicles are built on the same platform.
Autocar reports that the test vehicle differs from the Q5 in several ways. Its wheel arches are wider, its front grille is larger, and its stance looks lower and broader. The outlet describes the overall look as significantly more aggressive than the related Audi.
Porsche has confirmed that the new SUV will arrive in 2028, according to the report. The company has framed the model under a strategy it calls Sportswagenschmeide 35, and it will be sold alongside the Macan Electric rather than replacing it outright.
Autocar also notes that the vehicle is based on the Premium Platform Combustion architecture that underpins the Q5. Because the source reporting relies on a test vehicle, the final production design, engine lineup and pricing have not been confirmed.
Background
The Macan has been one of Porsche's most important models since it arrived as a compact sport utility vehicle in the mid-2010s. It helped broaden the brand's appeal beyond traditional sports cars and became a volume seller that supported much of the company's wider development work. Its success made it a natural focus as Porsche reshaped its lineup for a period of rapid change in the industry.
That change has been driven largely by electrification. Automakers across the market have been balancing combustion engines with battery-electric vehicles, often running both types side by side while demand, regulation and charging infrastructure develop at different speeds. Porsche has taken a similar approach, keeping combustion models in production while expanding its electric range. A combustion successor sold alongside an electric model reflects that broader balancing act.
Platform sharing is another long-standing practice in the industry. Carmakers spread the cost of engineering across several models by building different vehicles on a common architecture, then adjusting body shapes, suspension tuning and styling to give each brand its own character. Premium brands within large groups frequently share underpinnings in this way, and buyers often do not notice the connection until they compare vehicles closely.
Prototype testing also has a long history. Development vehicles, sometimes called mules, are typically built with disguised bodywork so engineers can evaluate packaging, cooling, durability and dynamics before a production design is locked in. Designs seen on early test vehicles can change considerably before launch, so observers generally treat them as hints rather than final answers.
Why it matters
For Porsche, the successor to the combustion Macan is about more than one model. The SUV occupies a segment where many buyers want practicality combined with a sporty image, so its design and positioning send a signal about how the brand intends to balance its traditional identity with a changing market.
The reported plan to sell the new vehicle alongside the Macan Electric also matters. It suggests the company is not treating electrification as a single switch but as a transition in which customers can still choose combustion power for the foreseeable future. That approach gives buyers options, but it also means Porsche must manage two model lines with different engineering demands, pricing and marketing.
Shared architecture with the Audi Q5 raises a further question. Sharing a platform can lower costs and speed development, which strengthens the business case, yet it also invites comparison. Porsche will need to show that the more assertive styling and any changes in driving character justify a distinct identity for buyers who may consider both vehicles. For enthusiasts and industry watchers alike, the result will be an early indication of how the brand defines its premium SUV in the years ahead.
What to watch
Watch for an official design reveal. The current views come from a test vehicle, and the production version may differ in details. Further sightings of prototypes could show whether the lower, wider stance and enlarged grille carry through to the final car.
Pay attention to the powertrain lineup, which the report does not detail, and to how Porsche positions the model relative to the Macan Electric and the Q5. Pricing, trim structure and any launch timing beyond the 2028 target will also be important signals for buyers.
Finally, note how the parallel strategy evolves. Any shift in emphasis between combustion and electric models would show how Porsche expects demand to develop over the coming years.
Viewpoints
Commentary from our columns: three angles on this story.
The Driver's Seat the enthusiast's take
There is something satisfying about a Porsche that looks like it means it. If the test vehicle's wider arches and larger grille survive to production, the new model could give the SUV range the visual tension some enthusiasts have been waiting for. A lower, broader stance changes how a vehicle sits on the road and how it reads in a mirror at speed.
Still, I am wary of judging a car from camouflage and a shape that owes much to a sibling model. The real test will be the drive. Does it feel like a Porsche through a corner, with steering that talks back and brakes that inspire confidence? Styling can draw you in, but the chassis is what keeps you there.
I would rather see the company commit to a clear identity than offer a handsome vehicle that happens to share its skeleton with another brand. If this SUV delivers that, it will be a welcome sign that the enthusiasm that built the brand can survive the move into a more crowded market.
The Engineer how the hardware works
The most interesting detail here is the platform rather than the styling. Building a Porsche SUV on the same architecture as the Audi Q5 is a practical decision because it spreads engineering cost and lets the team focus on what makes the car distinct. Wider wheel arches and a larger front grille suggest real changes to the body, and those can affect airflow, cooling and structural design, so they are not cosmetic in engineering terms.
Shared hardware always involves compromise. Suspension geometry, mounting points and packaging constraints set limits that a sports-focused brand must work within. The challenge is to tune the chassis, steering and damping so the vehicle feels distinctly like a Porsche despite a common base.
A lower and wider stance, if it reaches production, would also change how weight and center of gravity are managed. Engineers will need to show that the car handles with the precision expected from the badge. Prototype sightings can reveal the shape, but the mechanical story will only become clear once the drivetrain and suspension details are published.
The Accountant price, value and running costs
Platform sharing is good news for anyone who cares about cost. Spreading development across two brands can reduce the expense of bringing a new SUV to market, and that efficiency is something buyers rarely see on a sticker but often feel in a lineup's overall pricing. Whether those savings reach the customer is a separate question, one that will only be answered when prices are published.
Selling the new model alongside the Macan Electric adds complexity. Buyers weighing a combustion SUV against an electric one will compare purchase price, insurance, fuel or charging costs and expected resale value. Porsche has an opportunity to make those trade-offs clear, but it will also need to avoid undercutting its own range.
Before anyone commits, prospective buyers should look beyond the badge. Ask about maintenance intervals, warranty terms and how the model holds its value over time. Enthusiasm for a more aggressive design is understandable, but a sound purchase depends on total cost of ownership, not styling alone.