NEW MACAN EV – A STEP INTO THE FUTURE!
As I write this, I’m just trying to finalise my Macan 4S EV specification prior to lock in at the end of September. As always, the colour is the difficult choice. I’ve owned a variety of six previous models with the last, perhaps the sweet spot of the range, a Macan T with its light two-litre engine being the best handling of the lot with all the performance you can legally use.
The demise of the diesel was a great shame, the torque-y three-litre Audi V6 was a peach and economical too – hence second-hand values are holding up well. I can’t understand why Porsche never brought a Macan hybrid to market, bearing in mind Audi has at least two variants of the Q5 hybrid built on the shared Macan underpinnings.
The new Macan 4S EV
The new EV version arrives to much acclaim from the motoring press. With its stylish design and extended range I’m sure it’ll be a great success being in the popular SUV segment. Time will tell. I’ll be able to give first-hand feedback of just how day-to-day user friendly it is soon.
DORSET WOTY
Members enjoyed an early autumn weekend based at the impressive RNLI Lifeboat College, Poole where we visited all the onsite facilities.
Apart from the D-class inflatables made on the Isle of Wight, the rigid boats are now all manufactured and recommissioned in-house at the All-Weather Lifeboat Station where we witnessed the construction phases of a 13-metre Shannon Class, water-jet-propelled lifeboat. Each takes 17 months to build at a cost of £2.7million. Two Scania 650hp engines give them a top speed to 25 knots (30mph).
Macan convoy waiting to board the Sandbanks chain ferry
Our visits continued to lifeboat stations at Poole and Swanage where members were able to understand the 24/7 coverage enabling crew to be summoned within four minutes ready to launch within a further eight minutes of a shout! We were lucky enough to venture inside the Shannon Class lifeboat at Swanage to see first-hand the state-of-the-art electronic navigation systems and emergency kit on board. Back at the college training centre, we were able try our skills on a an extremely realistic simulator to rescue survivors from a burning oil tanker just outside Dover harbour under full storm conditions, before viewing the four-metre deep indoor pool training area for practising capsize procedures from the D-class lifeboats and performing lifesaving procedures.
A collection at dinner on Saturday evening raised £265 for the RNLI – a worthy cause – and an understanding of which we all have much more since our visit. Grateful thanks to Norm and Jilly Tooley for arranging and compiling the weekend’s programme.
MONTHLY ZOOM SESSIONS
These continue on Tuesdays 12 November and 10 December.
For further info on any events, please email me.
Happy Macan-ing,
Mike
DIARY DATES
7-8 DECEMBER Joint Register Christmas Party Weekend
Booking now open – email me for details.
28-31 MARCH 2025 WOTY - The Montagu Arms Hotel, Beaulieu
A few places remain but be quick!