The news is out and official. Porsche, which has kept in wraps the information about the new Cayenne has now been leaked. Spy pictures of a test mule of the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne has been spotted with minimal camouflage.

This new Porsche SUV that we are talking appears to be leaner, meaner and fitter and looks much more desirable than the current Cayenne. The stand out feature in this SUV is the LED daytime running lights which are almost a must for the European car these days and four tailpipe exhaust system hinting that it could be the top of the line Turbo version.

The prototype also showed that the new Cayenne will come with black plastic body cladding, recessed fog lights, ‘power dome’ hood, wider grille and ‘Panamera’ style headlamps.

The interiors have also been inspired by the Porsche Panamera with almost the same central console with larger shifter and a large LCD screen which would be used for the entertainment system and satellite navigation.

Engine options will include a naturally aspirated 4.8 litre V8 with 400 bhp and 369 lb-ft of torque, a force inducted version of the same engine with 500 bhp and 516 lb-ft of torque for the Cayenne with the Turbo S moniker. The engine range will also include two Audi sourced power trains, the 3.0 litre V6 supercharged with 300 bhp and 310 lb-ft of torque and 3.0 litre turbo diesel V6 with 240 bhp and 405 lb-ft of torque. Porsche may also introduce a hybrid version with the 3.0 litre V6 petrol with combined power output of 333 bhp and 324 lb-ft of torque.

The takeover by Volkswagen of Porsche seems to have done some trick as the all new Cayenne shares the platform with the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg and might adopt the same street focussed setup. This would mean that Porsche may strip the current model’s heavy off-road equipment in favour of a lighter and more responsive overall drive which to us is a bit of a downer. The ‘Off-roadbility’ of the first SUV from Porsche is one of its USP. An SUV which can do a four wheeled drift just as well as a four wheeled mountain climb is what we know and love the Cayenne for.

We will have all the information once the new Cayenne is officially revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010.