Porsche is seeking a turnaround in South Korea, its fifth-largest market, with the Macan Electric, an electrified version of its bestselling sport utility vehicle and its first all-electric model.

In 2023, the German luxury carmaker reached a milestone achievement by exceeding annual sales of 10,000 units in Korea for the first time. However, with sales dropping by nearly 30 percent last year, the success was short-lived.

“(The gas-powered) Macan has been in production for over 10 years. With two facelifts, the SUV hit cumulative global sales of 844,236 units by 2023,” said Lee Suk-jae, head of retail qualification at Porsche Korea, during a press briefing on Thursday.

“The Macan Electric continues this legacy, having already delivered over 18,000 units globally, following its release in Korea last month,” he added.

The Macan Electric comes in four trims — the Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S and Macan Turbo — each offering upgraded driving performance. The Korea Herald checked out the upper two trim models, the Macan Turbo and Macan 4S, during a recent media drive covering a round trip of some 300 kilometers across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

Among its four driving modes of Normal, Sport, Offroad and Sport Plus, the Macan Turbo's aptly named Sport mode boasts sports car-like performance, with the immediate thrust of its electric motors, and a high voltage nickel, manganese and cobalt battery with 100 kilowatt-hours capacity. When stepping on the accelerator, the car instantly goes from 50 kilometers per hour to 110 kph in less than three seconds. The official zero to 100 acceleration of the turbo model is 3.3 seconds.

The all-electric Macan even captures Porsche’s iconic sports car DNA by incorporating an artificial engine sound, creating the illusion of riding a gas-powered car. The cabin remained exceptionally quiet at high speeds, with external air effectively sealed out to prevent wind noise.

The vehicle’s air suspension enables more dynamic driving by allowing drivers to feel the road surface while minimizing up and down body movements. Although this was not enough to prevent body roll during high-speed, winding courses, the car’s rear-end electric motor, which combines the dynamic torque distribution of the all-wheel drive and rear-axle steering, ensures lithe handling during cornering acceleration.

Switching to Normal mode provides a quieter, more comfortable ride that's ideal for city driving. Even with regenerative braking mode activated, the system minimizes the jerky and abrupt movements often experienced in EVs.

The Macan 4S, positioned between the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo, demonstrates performance comparable to the Turbo model.

As for the exterior, the Macan Electric’s sleek design includes headlights that are seamlessly integrated into the bumper and its frameless doors, a feature rarely seen in SUVs, enhance the sporty Porsche aesthetic. At the rear, the vehicle features a 3D taillight strip with a sculptural design and standard 22-inch wheels.

The vehicle’s wheelbase has been extended for the battery, but its overall length has not increased by much, resulting in shorter overhangs and a more robust look. Inspired by the Porsche Spyder, its side blades are available in various materials and colors to suit customer preferences.

Inside, the head-up display incorporates augmented reality technology for the first time to quickly deliver information such as driving directions, lane markings and distance warnings.

The Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S and Macan Turbo are priced at 99.1 million won, 159 million won, 114.4 million won and 138.5 million won, respectively.