Porsche is planning some heavy revisions for the next Cayenne, expected to be launched internationally in early 2010, well before the new version of its VW Touareg stablemate, which is tipped for a late-2010 launch.

Much of the focus is expected to be on improving the environmental credentials of the big Porsche SUV.

Despite early speculation concerning a smaller "Rockster" version of the Cayenne, these pics show the vehicle spotted on test was actually a full-blown Cayenne using essentially the same structure as the current model but with significant re-profiling of things like the bonnet, side panels and rear-end treatment.

Instantly notable are the simpler, less 911 inspired headlight shapes, the raised bonnet line and the seemingly more curvaceous door panels. The effect, at upper front guard level, is to give the car more styling definition while bumping out the wheel arches to raise visual aggressiveness.

For all this, the next Cayenne is expected to introduce much better fuel consumption and emission values which will be vital to the ongoing future of all large, thirsty SUVs.

As well as developments of the current normally aspirated and turbo V8 variants, and the price-leading V6, Porsche is expected to offer both diesel and hybrid versions of the next Cayenne.

As the next model appears to build on the current Cayenne structure, the packaging should remain pretty much as it is today, with perhaps a number of refinements to improve usability.

With Porsche taking a close financial interest in VW these days, it is expected the next Cayenne will significantly pre-date the next VW Touareg as Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking exerts his influence on the outcome of the joint SUV project.

-- with Carparazzi