Porsche may be getting ready to reverse course on one of its biggest bets. A new report suggests the automaker is reconsidering its decision to retire the internal combustion version of the Macan, its best-selling crossover. Not long ago, the company was confidently signaling the end of the . Now, that stance appears to be shifting.
We’ve heard rumors that this could happen already this year. Lutz Meschke, Porsche’s Chief Financial Officer that, “We are exploring the possibility of equipping some of the originally planned with hybrid drives or internal combustion engines in the future.” Now, his words have sparked further investigation and one publication says an announcement could come soon.
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Here’s what says about the situation. “A combustion version – presumably sharing underpinnings with the new – would most likely take three years to develop, meaning a long absence from the market of one of Porsche’s biggest sellers. An announcement is expected in March.” Sure, that’s months away, but these things take time.
If true, it would mean Porsche working hard between now and then to revamp its plans. Announcing a new ICE in March of 2026 could also have the benefit of making its launch feel closer. No doubt, if Porsche does decide to go this route, and all indications are that it’s at least considering it, we could see test mules before the end of the year.
With the latest Audi Q5 already on the road, Porsche wouldn’t be starting from scratch. Sharing a platform could accelerate development and help control costs. The real challenge will be figuring out how to keep Macan customers engaged in the meantime.
Macan EV Holds Its Own, for Now
That’ll be the toughest hurdle but the Macan EV isn’t exactly a flop. sold 18,278 of them in the final quarter of 2024. While regulation in Europe spelled the demise of the Macan ICE, it’s encouraging for Porsche that the EV version made up 66 percent of the model’s sales for the year.
That’s an encouraging sign, though the company is clearly watching what happens next. Models like the Taycan have shown how EV sales can soften over time. The task now is to maintain momentum while preparing for a possible return to combustion.