Porsche’s new SUV to be called Macan, tiger in Indonesian

Porsche’s new SUV to be called Macan, tiger in Indonesian

Porsche’s upcoming SUV will be called Macan. Sounding a lot like Malaysia’s favourite pastime, the name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger. Porsche says that the tiger combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics – core characteristics of the new SUV.

“The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of an SUV and is a genuine Porsche. The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in many languages and dialects and evoke positive associations,” said Bernhard Maier, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG.

The Macan SUV, which is smaller than the super successful Cayenne, is a key pillar of the company’s Strategy 2018, by which the sports car manufacturer wishes to expand its model portfolio. Macan will roll off Porsche’s Leipzig factory in 2013.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • kevin lee on Feb 17, 2012 at 2:24 am

    porsche didnt want malaysian tiger? hmm

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • sudath on Feb 17, 2012 at 3:24 am

    Macan is a Javanese word for tiger. The Indonesian word for tiger is harimau.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • sundaria on Feb 17, 2012 at 12:23 pm

      Interesting.
      Macan is derived from javanese “ngoko” dialect.
      sundanese calls tiger as “maung belang”.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Apernie on Feb 17, 2012 at 5:09 am

    Hmm.. ‘ma-chan’ or ‘makan’…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Hugo Andore on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:24 am

      Porsche Ma Can. Malays should buy it in droves.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • VoidDance on Feb 17, 2012 at 12:23 pm

      Since the word is Indonesia in origin, it should be ‘MA-CHAN’. This is because in Indonesian, the letter C is pronounce ‘Che’ instead of ‘Cee’ like we used to in Malaysia.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • XC70XC on Feb 17, 2012 at 5:54 am

    A smaller Porsche SUV! Just wonder if this would be based on the platform used by VW Tiguan & Audi Q5. If it is, would the Macan uses engine options from both sister marques as it make commercial and practical sense. Or Porsche would keep the engines, petrol at least a Porsche only flavor. Diesel will most likely be a unit from VAG group and the 2.0L TDI found in both VW and Audi may just not cut it in a Porsche without tweeks. Perhaps Porsche will use the unit from VW Golf GTD and tweek it for the base Macan diesel. Top diesel needs a V6 TDI at least with twin VGT turbos.

    Currently doing research on which car to get as a weekend sports car. One of the main criterias dictate that it will have to be a coupe or (2 door) and not the 4 door coupe variety. Anyway looking at older cars for more classic motoring. A Porsche is definitely on the list. 911 or Boxster? Hmm.. the list is endless. OR maybe a 928.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Paul Tan on Feb 17, 2012 at 6:41 am

      Tiguan and Q5 do not share a platform. Tiguan is based on Golfs transverse engine platform while Q5 uses the Audi A4’s longitudinal engine platform.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • The Enthusiast on Feb 17, 2012 at 9:38 am

        While Cayenne shares the same platform as the Q7, I suppose this Macan will be from the Q5?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Tenghengjuan on Feb 17, 2012 at 11:38 am

        Paul Tan, when will the pricing of the 991 be announced in Malaysia? I thought they said early February?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • 'Thom'LEe on Feb 17, 2012 at 2:56 pm

          17 February is its official launching date. You can go check it out.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • amirzaheenminhaj on Feb 17, 2012 at 9:27 am

      audi got Lamborghini
      vw got porsche

      why share???…compete lorh~~

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • What sudath said is true. Macan is Javanese word for tiger.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • taboogen on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:05 am

    i might be thumb down for this but now everybody want a bit of the tiger… kia with tiger face design… now porsche…. but only proton put the real tiger face on the logo…. go go tiger

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Kokopai on Feb 17, 2012 at 9:21 am

      Proton could name its next car ‘Proton Feline’ ;-)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Sissy tigers.. Only Porsche Macan is really tiger-like, power and beauty.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • confused on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Porsche did a mistake. Should have named it Porsche Harimau.

    “Hari-hari mau drive.” <—- Tagline for Asean market.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • acuka on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:31 am

    Looks like the X6 which has many unfavourable reviews. But if the hp is high enough, a macan it is. Yok tuku!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Just compare the European vs Bolehland mentality in portraying the tiger prowesness:

    “…Porsche says that the tiger combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics…”

    Meanwhile Protongkat’s tiger logo simply combines mediocrity, inferiority-complex, self-absorb/syok sendiri and delusional of grandeur….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • I stand to correct you, is not syok sendiri, is sangat super syok sendiri! Quadruple S.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mspfaz on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:43 am

    It sounds funny porsche macan. “Harimau sudah makan?” Car manufacturers now keep on using weird model name including mesarati kubang.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • azrai on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:46 am

    Next model in Malaysia:- Perodua Machai

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • tansri ytl on Feb 17, 2012 at 8:53 am

    Nama “macan” sebab banyak makan minyak”. Maybe.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • aiseyman on Feb 17, 2012 at 9:16 am

    apa macam? porsche macan…makan belacan

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • nurmisnan on Feb 17, 2012 at 9:22 am

    doesn’t matterlah macan or makan.. not bad

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • The Enthusiast on Feb 17, 2012 at 9:37 am

    Wow! Now everyone’s making smaller SUVs. But it think this will be somewhere along the likes of Q5 and X5. I’m sure pretty soon Porsche is coming up with a baby SUV. At the moment, the Evoque is making a runaway success in that platform.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • khairulx19a on Feb 17, 2012 at 10:09 am

    when u drive this car only place u will go is food stall, restaurant or any other food establishment haha, because in the driver mind is makan makan makan haha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ngiseng on Feb 17, 2012 at 10:14 am

    ..nice name macan…when i was kid..my parents always told me for not playing near the bushes..macam was a lot hiding there…hahaha..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Seems like Porsche is taking Indonesian SUV market very seriously.

    I remembered the Tiger Biskuat ad’s tagline – “Semua Bisa Jadi Macan.”

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • is it makan or mae-caen?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Kalu kat Malaysia…..kita panggil Porsche Macha.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • azlanaziz on Feb 17, 2012 at 11:54 am

    it’s pronounced ma-chan, not ma-kan (as c in malay, not c in english). sounds weird tho for a porsche

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kadal on Feb 17, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    ehemm.. being javanese myself.. i feel proud.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • porche macan? lol what a funny name..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ma:kan though Indonesian pronounced as Ma:chan

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Boon King on Feb 17, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    should name it “Macet” instead. Meaning traffic jam in Indon.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • abdul123 on Feb 17, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    Proton could name its next car ‘Proton Failure’

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • First its Kain, now its Makan…thee hee heee..

    name’s a side, i think the concept is awesome.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • VOLVO FOR LIFE on Feb 17, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    stupid name stupid car.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Dr Mamak on Feb 18, 2012 at 12:40 am

    Apanama… jalan-jalan cari makan ka

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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