The Porsche Cayenne's yet-unnamed baby brother was caught for the first time running laps around the Nurburgring and, to use Porsche's slogan for the Cayenne GTS, the bloodlines are unmistakable.
The styling clearly draws on the Cayenne, showing similar cues at the front and rear end. But the new Porsche is actually based on the upcoming Audi Q5, with which it shares its architecture.
Base engine will likely be the Cayenne's 3.6-liter V-6, with a V-8 likely for higher-end models as the Q5 architecture has enough room for one under the hood. As with the Cayenne, Porsche is likely to offer an off-road pack, with extra under-body protection. Air suspension may be also an option.
When placed side by side with the Q5, the similarity between the two SUVs becomes quite apparent. The middle sections of both cars are nearly identical despite vastly different in the front and rear-end styling.
The most noticeable difference comes from the Porsche's flatter roof, which creates its sharply-raked D-pillar and sloped rear window. Other, more subtle differences include the increased arc of the rear-door cutline and the placement of the rear-view mirrors. These are mounted onto the doors just below the greenhouse rather than between the front side window and A-pillar.
The small Porsche 'ute will likely arrive after the Panamera sedan, likely sometime during the 2011 model year.