The Porsche Macan is about to go through a mid-life cycle facelift, and one of the biggest changes to the model is the complete elimination of diesel engines and the addition of new and updated gas engines. The table of engine options are the biggest changes to the facelifted Macan, but they’re also complemented by updates on the exterior, chassis, and suspension.

The updated Porsche Macan is getting a steady stream of changes. Some minor updates to the lights and bumpers are expected. Meanwhile, the interior is getting a large central TFT screen while the suspension is getting fitted with aluminum uprights to help cut down the crossover’s overall weight and improve ride comfort. All these updates are important in creating a new driving experience among customers. It just so happens that they’re not the biggest changes that we can expect on the crossover. The biggest change can be found under the Macan’s hood.

Off the bat, the updated Macan will no longer carry any type of diesel engine. That’s in line with a policy Porsche created earlier this year because of “a cultural shift” among its customers. In place of the departed diesel units, Porsche is going all-gas in its Macan engine lineup, featuring new and upgraded versions of its current gas engines.

The base Macan, for example, still gets the same 2.0-liter turbo-four engine. That may not sound exciting, but upgrades to this engine include raising the output from 248 horsepower to around 300 horsepower, elevating the base model to a position where it can take the place of the traditionally strong-selling diesel versions in various markets around the world.

On the other hand, the mid-tier Macan S is getting an entirely new engine. It’s still a 3.0-liter V-6 engine, but it’s a different V-6 from the one the previous model used. Instead, the new Macan is getting the same unit that you can see on the new Porsche Panamera. There are no specific power and performance numbers attached to this unit yet, but Autocar believes that getting a new V-6 equates to getting more power, possibly around 355 horsepower from 335 horsepower to go with some extra juice on the torque side of the equation. If the Macan S ends up with this number, it would effectively take the place of the higher-end Macan GTS in the new lineup, elevating the rest of the versions up with it.

Then there’s the Macan Turbo, which will eschew its current 3.6-liter turbocharged V-6 engine for a similar engine with a smaller 2.9-liter capacity. Despite the smaller displacement, the new engine is expected to generate around 434 horsepower, a 40-horsepower improvement from the 394-horsepower output of the last model. Incidentally, that 434-pony figure is what customers would get on the current Macan if they get the optional Performance Pack.

In other words, the updated Porsche Macan is leveling up to provide customers with more bang for their buck. For a model that has contributed largely in turning Porsche into one of the most profitable automakers in the world, an improved version could help push the German automaker into heights it hasn’t yet reached.

We'll know soon enough if the new Macan has the chops to do it. The model is reportedly scheduled to debut later this year, possibly at the Paris Motor Show or Los Angeles Auto Show.

References

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Porsche Macan.

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche Macan.

Read more Porsche news.