By the time the all-electric Macan is launched in 2023, it will have covered some three million test kilometres worldwide in varying conditions. The experience gained from these virtual test kilometres will be incorporated in the subsequent designs of production prototypes.

Digital development and testing not only saves time and manufacturing costs, but also minimises the usage of non-renewable resources, such as fuel and raw materials. During virtual testing, engineers use digital prototypes - computational models that replicate the properties, systems and power units of a vehicle to a high degree of accuracy, instead of physical models. The use of 20 separate digital prototypes in the Macan's development allow for simulations that yield results indistinguishable from real-life equivalents, especially in crucial areas such such as aerodynamics, energy management, and acoustics. The calculations used take into account different possible arrangements of components and reflect real-life temperature differences, illustrating the granular precision that virtual simulations are capable of.

Virtual prototypes can be combined with real-world models during the developmental stage, leveraging the advantages that both methods bring. In the upcoming Macan’s development, a 'seat box' recreates the driver's immediate environment, which allows for a better understanding of factors that can only be assessed from the driver's point of view. 

The market launch of the all-electric Macan – the first Porsche to be built on the company's Premium Electric Platform - is planned for 2023. Combustion-engined Macan models will also be offered alongside the all-electric Macan in the future. Until then, it still has millions of test kilometres to cover – both in real life and virtually.