Porsche's baby Cayenne scooped

Porsche's new baby has taken its first steps! This is a forthcoming little brother for the Cayenne SUV – which we've spied testing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany for the first time.

Based on platform architecture shared with Audi's Q5, the compact SUV is the next logical step in the expansion of Porsche's range. Buoyed by the success of the Cayenne, the smaller version will compete with BMW's X3 and Land Rover's Freelander, offering a sportier driving experience than both.

As you can see from these spy shots of a prototype wearing a Cayenne body as a disguise, the new model is shorter and narrower. It will feature four-wheel drive and will share engines with the Q5, including a 3.2-litre V6 petrol and even the possibilty of diesel power for the first time too.

The new model is expected to go on sale next year with a price tag of around £40,000. For more details, see the May 14th issue of Auto Express.