Ultimate EV backflip confirmed! Petrol-powered Porsche Macan SUV to return as EV-only plans for 2026 Audi SQ5, Genesis G70 and Lexus NX rival falter

Petrol power is returning to the Porsche Macan.

The company will release a new internal-combustion engined SUV to live alongside the electric-only Macan.

According to Automotive News, Porsche Chief Executive Oliver Blume said the brand will have a petrol and hybrid mid-size SUV by no later than 2028.

He added the vehicle will be rolled out to all markets, and will be a “Porsche-typical” SUV that will be differentiated from the all-electric Macan.

It is expected this new SUV will ride on the same PPC platform, which underpins the new Audi Q5, offering Porsche a similar duo to Audi's Q5 and Q6.

Porsche had originally planned to not replace the petrol Macan, but petrol alternatives to both the new Macan EV and coming electric Cayenne were required due to lower than expected EV sales.

Blume told analysts on an earnings call the brand would have “a more balanced drivetrain portfolio from 2028 onward” to “enhance market positioning and underpin sustainable growth.”

Porsche had originally planned to fully electrify not just its top-selling Macan and Cayenne SUVs but also its 718 sports car, which in Cayman (coupe) and Boxster (roadster) form sits below the halo 911.

The brand stated earlier that it will take “significantly longer” to transition to electric mobility and its original timeline was no longer viable.

Blume said earlier in the year: “We are experiencing a fierce storm. But we are doing everything we can to counteract them. We are resolutely investing in the future. In challenging times we are continuing to develop Porsche with a precise focus. This requires more resources in the short term, but it will make our company even more profitable in the long term. We accept the challenge. We have a plan. We are acting. And we’re not wasting any time.”

 The brand will cut around 3900 jobs as part of its adjustments, and its electric 718 replacements would be pushed back until 2027 as it made adjustments to its battery supply chain.

Porsche has hinted at a reversal of its EV-only model replacement plans since the beginning of 2025, and will continue to forge down this path, despite earlier saying it was committed to the EV-only mission and that the new Macan would be a best-seller.

The Macan is performing decently in Australia despite faltering somewhat globally. It is flat with its sales tally from last year, having amassed 1475 units in the first half of 2025.

This puts the nameplate ahead of Audi’s Q4 and Q6 combined, Volvo’s XC60, and the Genesis GV70 so far this year in its premium SUV segment, although it trails the most popular options, including the Lexus NX, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Audi Q5.