Porsche Macan 2014 News

The latest picture of the compact Porsche SUV leaves nothing to the imagination. The Macan is revealed as a surprisingly stylish younger brother to the giant Cayenne as Porsche fast-tracks the car for showrooms using plenty of parts from the Audi bin. A V6 engine is now certain with around 280 kiloWatts on the turbocharged headline model, but there is also expected to be a four-cylinder motor - the first in a Porsche since the end of the 968 in 1995.What is it? Porsche MacanWhy the fuss? Second SUV from the sports car specialistWhen's it here? Late 2013How much? Around $70,000 

...the Macan, is nearly ready to join the German lineup.The Macan borrows heavily from the Audi Q5 in size and style, but Porsche promises its signature performance including a turbocharged V6 model to thump the BMW X5. Carparazzi has caught the car with almost zero disguise, although the Audi wheels will definitely be changed before the Macan arrives in Porsche showrooms. It will be here in 2013 from about $75,000.

Photographers in Europe caught the Macan while testing in Germany. The images show the Macan has stayed true to the earlier Porsche renderings, with styling that echoes the larger Cayenne SUV.Previously carrying the ‘working title’ of Cajun (for Cayenne Junior) the Macan will be based on the mid-sized Audi Q5 platform and is also likely to carry over some of the engine and transmission choices from both the petrol and diesel drivetrains.Following the pattern of the Cayenne, there is also almost certainly going to be a hybrid version. The smaller SUV will target a growing trend towards smaller vehicles with better economy, and Porsche will be looking to add higher-tuned and sportier models to the line-up.The Macan will come from the same plant in Leipzig -- in Germany’s Saxony region -- that produces the larger SUV and also the Panamera, although the sibling Audi Q5 and Volkswagen Touareg are built elsewhere.

The Macan - the Indonesian word for Tiger - should be ready for the road in the final months of 2013 and joins a growing number of baby crossovers from the Subaru XV to the Mazda CX-5 and upcoming Ford Endeavour, as well as several still-secret newcomers from General Motors.Porsche said it was never intending to sell the baby SUV as the Cajun, which was just a working codename derived from 'Cayenne Junior'.Macan now officially replaces Cajun as the name for the compact Porsche, which the company hopes will be as big a winner as the full-sized Cayenne that provided the much-need profits for the continued success of the classic 911 and smaller Boxster and Cayman twins.Porsche is repeating the Cayenne plan with the Macan as, just as the heavyweight SUV is twinned with the Volkswagen Taureg, the newcomer will share the mechanical platform of the Audi Q5."Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of an SUV and is a genuine Porsche," says Bernhard Maier, head of sales and marketing at Porsche. He says it's never easy to choose a new name, but believes Macan will work well."The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in very many languages and dialects, and evoke positive associations."Porsche has not said when it will reveal the road-ready Macan, but there is growing anticipation in Europe together with expectation for the all-new Lamborghini SUV also expected to break cover in 2011.The Italian heavyweight will be the first for the company since the ill-fated LM002 in the 1980s and, after initial rumours of a showing in Geneva next month it could now be revealed at the Beijing Motor Show.On the Macan front, Porsche confirms the car will be built at its Leipzig factory in Germany alongside the Cayenne following a $650 update that includes a new body shop and paint facility.