Porsche Macan GTS Paint Protection Film

Paint protection installer

Porsche Macan GTS

Founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, Porsche AG has a longstanding history of building high quality performance vehicles based around an iconic design. From EVs and supercars, to SUVs and racing equipment, Porsche has taken to designing and manufacturing some of the most iconic vehicles in history. While the 911 and 718 are their most popular vehicles being sold now, the Macan takes home the bronze, and for good reason!

The slightly smaller sibling to the Cayenne, the Macan is the second SUV released by Porsche in the 21st century. Coming just a little over a decade after the release of the Cayenne in 2002, the Macan was initially referred to by the code name “Cajun,” meaning “Cayenne Junior.” Released in 2014, the Macan was designed to compete with other mid-sized luxury SUVs, like the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350, Audi Q5, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, BMW X4, and Volvo XC60.

Produced in the beautiful city of Leipzig, Germany, the Macan is built alongside the Panamera and Cayenne. The original design was based off the first generation Audi Q5, sharing a platform and wheelbase. However, the Macan’s engine, transfer case, suspension tuning, interior, and exterior body are unique to Porsche.

The Macan GTS

Designed to be a bit sportier than the larger Cayenne, the Macan features the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), or the Porsche Dual-Clutch Gearbox. The PDK allows for swifter shifts and better response when it shifts, as opposed to the Tiptronic Automatic Gearbox featured in the Cayenne. The Tiptronic system is far smoother than the PDK, leading to smoother driving in the Cayenne.

The Macan GTS is the top-of-the-line Macan available of the three trim levels. With an increase in horsepower from 261 in the base model to 434 in the GTS, Porsche did not mess around with designing this SUV. This drastic increase in horsepower decreases the 0-60mph time from 6.0 seconds to 4.3 seconds, pushing just ahead of the Cayenne GTS by 0.2 seconds.

Designed as the sports car of compact SUVs, the Macan GTS features a 2.9L twin-turbo V6 engine capable of a top track speed of 169mph and outputting a maximum torque of 406 lb.-ft. With a sport-tuned suspension and chassis, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and optional air suspension, this SUV is absolutely built to handle even the most winding roads and tracks.

Featuring interior options like deviated accent stitching, materials like leather or Alcantara, and state of the art infotainment, this SUV has all of the creature comforts to keep you comfortable and tuned in while behind the wheel. Some of the other options include a heated steering wheel, carbon fiber trim, and 18-way adaptive sports seats.

One of the other unique options offered by Porsche is the Paint to Sample color option. An $11,430 option in the USA, this program allows you to truly customize the look of your Porsche to exactly your specifications by customizing your paint color. An extensive process, taking 6 or more months to develop and vet your paint color, and it isn’t even 100% guaranteed that your paint color will be approved. Because Porsche wants to keep a particular high quality standard, they may choose not to approve your color at the recommendation of their paint supplier. 

To get your very own custom color, you must submit a sample of your paint on a letter-sized piece of metal along with the order of your vehicle to your dealer before the process can start. The Porsche Club of America has compiled a list of the 511 currently available paint colors along with their codes and photos of the vehicle in that color on their website named Rennbow. On the site, you can search by color family, look for a particular color, or even search by model and year of manufacture to see if your vehicle has been done in that particular color. 

The ability to choose your own custom color from Porsche’s list or even to create your own truly opens up a whole new avenue of customizability for your Macan GTS. From Adriatic Blue to Satin Black and everywhere in between, Porsche is able to make your Macan GTS truly one-of-a-kind and individual to you.

The AE Bespoke Process

Our Bespoke Package here at Automotive Elegance includes a full-vehicle Paint Protection Film (PPF) XPEL wrap, ceramic coating, and optionally window tinting. Not every Bespoke Package customer chooses to do window tints, but many do for the convenience of the vehicle already being in the shop.

A full-vehicle PPF wrap covers every painted surface of the vehicle, ensuring that the full exterior is properly protected from any possible paint damage. The ceramic coating can be applied to the entire exterior of the vehicle, including glass, trim, wheels, and directly over PPF. If the customer wants, there is even an option for interior ceramic, that can be applied to every interior surface of the vehicle. Protecting leather, trim, fabrics, and any other interior surfaces, an interior ceramic coating can make all the difference if you’re someone who practically lives inside their car.

Each vehicle’s process at Automotive Elegance begins with the prep wash after being taken in by our Sales Team. Before our Detail Team begins in earnest, the wheels are sprayed down with an acid-free wheel cleaner. The prep wash includes two thorough washes using a pressure washer and foam cannon, with the second wash including a rub down with a microfiber mitt to remove any remaining surface dirt or grime. Every surface is cleaned, even the wheels and inside of the wheel wells. 

After rinsing off the remaining soap, the detail team goes in with a clay bar. The clay bar helps to get in any small nooks or crannies in the paint from scratches or the manufacturer’s paint spray process. The prep wash is a crucially important part of the process and ensures a completely clean and contaminant-free surface for the installers in the next steps of the process.

Once fully cleaned and dried, the vehicle is then moved to the installation side of the shop. All of the sheets of film have been prepared by the Production Center and are placed in the passenger seat for easy storage and access for the installers. Before laying any film, the installer will go over each panel again with a water and isopropyl alcohol solution to remove any dust or other contaminants that may have gotten on the car before installation.

Starting with the hood of this Macan GTS, the largest piece of film is laid. Tacking each corner, the film is stretched and maneuvered around to fit the contours of the hood while being lubricated with a solution of water with a small bit of soap. This solution helps the film to slide around nicely on the painted surfaces of the vehicle, while also allowing the squeegee to slide effortlessly across the film without snagging or skipping.

Using their squeegee, the installer will then smooth the film onto the surface of the hood, pushing out all of the solution and air pockets while adhering the adhesive-backed film to the panel of the vehicle. This process will be repeated for every single piece of PPF, from the quarter panels and doors, to the tiniest pieces to fit around vents or door handles.

After each piece has been meticulously attached, the final steps can begin. The installers will go around tucking in and trimming the edges of the PPF to minimize seams or hide gaps between the panels. Using a heat gun, they’ll seal the edges of the film on each panel to prevent it from peeling up prematurely. Lastly, with the help of the Shop Manager, the car gets a full visual inspection for any contamination, bubbles, or issues in the film before it gets sent to the ceramic bay to be coated.

Once inside the ceramic bay, the coating process can start in earnest. Applied directly to the windows, trim, wheels, and PPF or paint, the ceramic coating acts like an extra layer of clear coat or like a nail polish top coat. It adds an extra glossy layer of shine while providing hydrophobic properties, keeping the car cleaner and making it easier to wash.

This ceramic coating comes in a small bottle and the liquid is applied with a small pad. The strong chemical smell of the ceramic quickly dissipates as it’s buffed into the surface of the car with a microfiber cloth. This buffing process, followed by close observation under a bright light, will help to minimize or find any high spots in the ceramic.

The final detail process includes cleaning the windows, applying a Ceramic Booster, and shining the tires to create a final polished look like the vehicle just rolled off the showroom floor. Once photographed and back inside the shop, the Sales Team can deliver the vehicle fully protected back to the customer.

Call us! Here at Automotive Elegance, we specialize in Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coatings, and Window Tints using products from XPEL. Recipients of the XPEL US Dealer of the Year Award in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, we’ve protected it all! Visit us a https://www.automotiveelegancellc.com/ to schedule a booking.