Porsche's ballistic ballerina

The range-topping Macan Turbo Electric SUV is exceedingly fast and extraordinarily poised

- Christopher Tan

With a hefty shove of my right foot, the deep-blue metallic Porsche Macan Turbo Electric charges from 70kmh to 140kmh with unnatural ease. It is as if the car is guided by invisible rails and pushed along by cosmic forces. There is not a trace of steering shiver as its wheels track effortlessly to keep the car apace with the fastest vehicles on the autobahn.

That, in essence, sums up the magic of the new battery-powered Macan. Its uncanny ability to feel as stable and at ease while hurtling at high speeds as it is tooling about at urban pace puts many other performance cars in the shade.

Measuring 4,784mm long, 1,938mm wide and 1,622mm tall with a 2,893mm wheelbase, the mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a tad longer and wider than the combustion-engined Macan, which continues to be available. In fact, it is close to the dimensions of the first-generation Porsche Cayenne full-sized SUV.

Tipping the scales at 2,405kg, the range-topping dual-motor Macan Turbo Electric weighs as much as the early Cayenne, which makes its uncommon athleticism even more remarkable.

You are talking about a 3.3-second century sprint and a top speed of 260kmh. Going from 80kmh to 120kmh takes merely two seconds.

In animal terms, think of an elephant which sprints like a cheetah. The cheetah, in this case, is pretty deft at making quick sharp turns too.