Cayennes are constructed by Audi in Slovakia, then transported back to Leipzig for final assembly, so it's no surprise the Macan is effectively another VW group product.
The Macan will be the cheapest car in Porsche's line-up. The Boxster costs £37,000 in the UK, so expect the Macan to be priced from £30,000. The base models will feature a flat-4, 2 litre petrol engine or an inline 4, 2-litre diesel. The flat-4 is should also appear in the Boxster and Cayman in the next year or so. Other engines will include a 3.6 litre, V6, twin turbo petrol engine, a 3-litre, V6, twin turbo petrol and a 3-litre, turbocharged V6 diesel.
The Macan will be based on VW's MLB platform, already in use in the Audi A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8, but which will be modified for the upcoming Q5 - as well as the Macan. The Macan will be approximately 4.6 metres long (21cm shorter than the Cayenne), 1.9 metres wide and 1.6 metres high.
The Porsche Macan will be formally unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November. It is guaranteed to sell by the boat load if it is priced as expected. It has the Porsche image, it's an SUV and it will be as cheap as a BMW X1.
Its looks can't exactly be described as innovative but Porsche are pretty much the most conservative of all established manufacturers when it comes to design. They aim to repeat the success of the Cayenne by making a small Cayenne - so they made a car that looks just like a Cayenne, only smaller. QED.
But what do we care. It should make them enough money to invest in what we petrol-heads really want to see - more sports cars - and perhaps the Panamera Sports Touring that looks a ton better than the current Panamera.
