What's this all about?

Facelift-time for the Porsche Macan!

Is that all you've got to say on the matter?

Erm... well, no. Obviously. Ahem. OK, so the hugely successful SUV has been updated for the 2019MY. Since it went on sale in 2014, Porsche has shifted more than 350,000 of the things worldwide, which means it's now a core sales driver for the German company. The new one can be easily distinguished if you're looking at its rear quarters (steady, steady...), as it now has a full-width, 3D light strip across its boot. Framing that are four-point brake lights and, echoing the latter feature, the LED-as-standard headlights also have the four-point motif. You can clothe the Porsche's sleek bodywork in one of four new colours, which are Mamba Green Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic, Miami Blue and Crayon, while inside the Porsche Communication Management (also made standard fit on all models as part of the facelift) is presented on a larger, 10.9-inch screen - it was 7.2 inches across the diagonal previously. Porsche Connect Plus - bringing in an LTE phone module, WLAN hotspot capability and other connected services - is added to the kit list, while further options include a GT sports steering wheel (part of the Sport Chrono Package), a Traffic Assist system that drives the Macan in heavy traffic at speeds of up to 37mph, a heated windscreen and an air ioniser.

OK, so it's a visual update, and nothing more?

Au contraire. Or whatever the German for 'on the contrary' is. Auf der kontrarie, perhaps? Anyway, we're getting side-tracked. The Macan has always stunned with its dynamic capabilities, and yet Porsche is claiming it has made it 'even more enjoyable to drive', thanks to chassis revisions that improve both the ride and the handling. With mixed-size tyres on the two axles, Porsche Traction Management (PTM) as standard and 18- to 21-inch alloys on offer, we reckon the revised Macan should be superb to drive. Because the old one sure as heck was.

What about motive power?

Porsche is only talking about one engine at the moment, which is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol mill. Now, this was previously a special-order model here in the UK, with most Macans running six-pot units, but, well, y'know... environmental concerns and all that malarkey. Thus, the Macan 2.0 has 245hp and 370Nm, which is sent to all corners through a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. That allows the SUV to run 0-62mph in as little as 6.7 seconds, before topping out at 139mph, while the fuel economy is 34.9mpg combined with CO₂ emissions of 185g/km. One word of caution here: those last two numbers are NEDC figures, so WLTP testing will have an impact on them, as and when it takes place.

And when can I order one of these new Macans?

Right now, with UK prices starting from £46,344.