THE 2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE has been spied testing in final production guise at Germany’s famed Nurburgring circuit.

Smaller overall than the current model, the 2011 Cayenne will nonetheless share its platform with the larger Audi Q7 and Volkswagen Touareg. The wheelbase will be shortened 40mm in length, and height will drop by 20mm.

Power is expected to be supplied by a choice of V6 and V8 petrol and turbodiesel engine options, and a petrol-electric hybrid Cayenne is known to be in the works.

The entry-level Cayenne will be powered by Audi’s 3.0 litre V6 turbo-diesel, developing around 180kW. A 3.6 litre petrol V6 producing 245kW will follow, and a 298kW 4.8 litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8 will start the V8 line-up.

The Cayenne S will feature a tweaked version of the same V8, producing 312kW, and a turbo-charged 373kW V8 will motivate the Cayenne Turbo.

All of the Cayenne models will feature direct-injection, with certain models expected to be offered with Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission.

Details of the Porsche Cayenne hybrid have been thin on the ground. It was revealed earlier this year that it would draw power from Audi’s 248kW/438Nm 3.0 litre supercharged V6, combined with a three-phase synchronous electric motor, itself developing 39kW and 299Nm of torque.

The electric motor doubles as the alternator and pulls its charge from a nickel-metal hydride battery which weighs only 70kg (154lb) and fits into the spare wheel well.

GALLERY » 2011 Porsche Cayenne Spy Photos

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