Crossover lovers will be enthused to hear that Porsche has a new compact utility vehicle in the works for next year. Officially dubbed the Porsche Macan, the fresh auto has previously been called the "Cajun" due to its resemblance to a junior Porsche Cayenne. Not long ago, spy photographers caught the first glimpses of the new model in action and Boardwalk Porsche is happy to share what they found.

Though the spy shots show a Macan covered in a bit of Cayenne camouflage, there's no denying the fact that it's a much smaller CUV. The roofline in particular gives away the new Porsche model's identity. Working a bit of a different angle, Porsche engineers have given the Macan enough suspension tweaks to push it ever so close to the sports car stable.

While the forthcoming auto does share its powertrain platform with other partner brands, the Macan boasts plenty of features that inextricably bind it to the Porsche family. For example, the interior is designed specifically to fit the luxury brand's persona with a raised center console that bears striking resemblance to that of the Porsche Panamera.

Scheduled to go on sale come 2013, the new Porsche Macan CUV will offer up a variety of drivetrains based on geographical market. Europe will see both hybrid and diesel options while we in the U.S. are more apt to receive turbocharged gas-only variants.

To learn more about the forthcoming Macan or any other new Porsche model, stop by Boardwalk Porsche at 5924 West Plano Parkway Plano, TX 75093 at your earliest convenience.