LA LIVE: 2014 Porsche Macan [VIDEO]

Following months of teaser images and leaks, Porsche has lifted the veil off of the 2014 Macan, a small crossover slated to slot beneath the Cayenne as the automaker’s second utility vehicle. Â

Named after the Indonesian word for tiger, the Macan borrows many design cues from the larger Cayenne while featuring a profile loosely inspired by the Infiniti QX50 (formerly known as the EX).  The crossover wears an aggressive front end highlighted by claw-like trim on the bumper, a wide grille opening, a wraparound hood and headlights modeled after the ones found on the range-topping 918 Spyder.  Out back, the Macan features horizontal LED tail lamps and a functional air diffuser. 

Porsche’s latest crossover boasts a sports car-inspired cockpit highlighted by a three-spoke multi-function sports steering wheel with shift paddles, sport seats up front, a sloping center console and angular air vents.  A touch screen mounted on the center console bundles the crossover’s entertainment, climate control and navigation (when equipped) functions into a single unit.

The list of standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, an electronically operated tailgate, parking sensors and bi-xenon headlights.  Staying true to tradition, the Macan comes with a mile-long list of options that includes torque vectoring, a segment-first air suspension, a panoramic roof and Porsche’s Sport Chrono Package.

The entry-level Macan S is powered by an all-new 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 340 horsepower, enough to send the crossover from zero to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds.  The more expensive Macan Turbo features a 400-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 that enables the crossover to reach 62 mph from a stop in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 165 mph.  Buyers in Europe will be able to order a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that churns out 258 ponies.

All engines are linked to a dual-clutch PDK gearbox that sends power to all four wheels via the latest evolution of Porsche’s PTM all-wheel drive system.  An off-road mode that increases ground clearance and optimizes the gear ratios helps Macan owners get off the beaten path.

Built in Leipzig, Germany, the 2014 Porsche Macan will go on sale across the United States next spring.  Pricing information will be published closer to its on-sale date.