PORSCHE has added a new Macan 3.0 litre turbo V6 to its compact SUV range – one with an additional 10kW – and it will be here early next year.

The new Macan S, priced from $97,500, has a newly developed 260kW V6 with a twin-scroll turbocharger that provides a massive 480Nm of torque at low engine speeds.

That’s 10kW more and speed merchants will be delighted to know that if the optional Sport Chrono Package is fitted, the new Macan S will zoom to 100 km/h in  5.1 seconds, which is a whole 0.1 seconds quicker than the previous model.

Really?

However, if the zero .1 of a second improvement is not all that important, other benefits of the new model include a retune of the all-wheel drive chassis which has made the steering more precise  and improved ride comfort.

Top speed, for what it’s worth in our severely speed restricted ‘land of the free’ is 254km/h.

Detail improvements include a brake pedal that now weights 300g less than the previous one and improves brake feel, the use of 10mm bigger and 2mm thicker front brake discs with copper-free pads and inside, the fully networked Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with a larger 10.9-inch touchscreen.

As before, the standard Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM) active damper control system or the optional height-adjustable air suspension with optimised rolling pistons and new shock absorber hydraulics and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) improve the model’s driving dynamics and handling.

New options for buyers who want their Macan S to be a tad different from others, are a GT sports steering wheel, as used in the 911, and an ioniser.

The mode switch integrated into the steering wheel – including the Sport Response button – is part of the also optional aforementioned Sport Chrono Package.

You can also optionally include a heated windscreen, and an ioniser that improves the quality of the air inside the vehicle.

The Macan S is available to order now for delivery in the next few months.

The Porsche Connect Services Navigation and Infotainment Package is included free of charge for a 12 month period.

After that, the services can be bought on a subscription basis.