Porsche begins revealing the new Macan (w/AUDIO)

Porsche has begun engaging fans using a new microsite packed with insights on its forthcoming compact SUV.

In fact, they’d like to correct that assertion straight away, according to Porsche it’s a 5-door sports car able to handle all of your hobbies, leisure activities and sport while remaining true to the Porsche DNA.

Performance

It will be powered from the outset by a range of turbocharged V6 petrol engines and common-rail turbodiesel, with a potential four-cylinder powerplant entering the range further down the line.

The Macan Turbo uses a 3.6-litre Bi-Turbo engine producing around 395bhp and 406 lb-ft (550Nm) of torque, this is followed by the 3.0-litre Bi-Turbo Macan S with around 335bhp and 339 lb-ft (460Nm) of torque, while the Macan S Diesel is set to offer 254bhp and 428 lb-ft (580Nm).

The Macan Turbo is due to tip the scales at around 1,700kg, which goes some way to explaining its impressive fuel economy – 30.7mpg for the Turbo with CO2 emissions of 216 g/km, while at the other end of the scale the Macan S Diesel will deliver 46.3mpg and 159 g/km.

Character

Porsche describe the Macan as wide and sleek, radiating “an intensive sportiness”. The rear is characterised by wide, imposing shoulders foretelling of its performance, which Porsche describe as offering “the most dynamic handling in its class”.

The design of the Macan follows that of the bigger Cayenne, featuring a dynamic looking front with a clamshell bonnet and characteristic headlights. Large air intakes dominate the front of the Macan Turbo, while the side profile is heavily contoured with a sloping coupé-like roof line.

Using a chassis shared with the Audi Q5, Porsche applies its ‘intelligent performance’ principles to reduce weight, increase width and drop the ride height to take advantage of its multi-link suspension, adjustable dampers and all-wheel drive transmission.

Unlike pretty much any other SUV on the market, Porsche foregoes a conventional auto box, using instead a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission – the emphasis being firmly on driver control and involvement rather than suburban cruising.

Porsche have added a further 1,000 workers and invested around €500m ($676m) in construction of a new body assembly line and a paint shop at its Leipzig plant.

Pricing in the U.S. has been confirmed at $52,000 for the S and $75,000 for the Turbo version, which compares with $51,900 which Audi charges for its 313bhp SQ5. On that basis we’d expect the Macan S to cost around £45,000 here in the UK, with the Turbo version nearer to £65,000.

The Porsche Macan will be revealed next month at the LA Motor Show before going on sale in May 2014.

You can find out more at the official Porsche Macan microsite.