Four and a half years ago,the first Porsche Cayenne rolled out of a shiny new assembly plant in the bucolic landscape outside Leipzig, Germanyв and into a maelstrom. Skeptics had spent much of the preceding year debating, as much about whether Porsche could build a legitimate sport/utility vehicle as whether it ought to. Most said no.

Spy photographers Brenda Priddy and Co. have spotted the prototype for the upcoming Baby Porsche Cayenne (dubbed Roxster by some) near Germany’s famed Nurburgring.

Production of the second generation of the Porsche Cayenne has got off to a successful start in the Porsche Leipzig factory.

Porsche Cars North America is getting really racy for the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, where the automaker's stand in McCormick Place will feature an all-out racecar as well as the second generation Porsche Cayenne sport utility vehicle

Citing slowing consumer's demand and, hence, supply glut, Porsche has announced a decision to stop production of the current Porsche Cayenne premium SUV till the new model arrives. In the meantime, dealerships will have to sell the remaining 2006 Cayennes.

A refreshed Porsche Cayenne is due next year and as you can see from the photos- there is a new front fascia, new headlights, and a sportier body sculpturing. Porsche is sure to have a winner with this updated Cayenne.

Two years ago at the Frankfurt auto show, Porsche announced it had begun work on a hybrid Cayenne program, but the company has remained quiet since then, except to tell us it has remained partnered with VW on the SUVs development.

Right at the beginning of the New Year, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, celebrated a special production jubilee: employees at the Leipzig plant put the finishing touches to the 200,000th Cayenne. The automobile, a red GTS, will be delivered to a customer in the Middle East. The Cayenne GTS ( see here the official specs) is a distinctly sporting variant of the series with a 298 kW (405 PS) V8-Motor and special driving dynamics.

The Cayenne is the driving force behind Porsche's March sales figure in North America. 3,461 new Cayennes in North America which is twice the number of 911's which also enjoyed 18% growth in March 2006.

The vehicle will not share its hybrid powerplant with the one, developed by Porsche's engineers.

Porsche is reportedly working on a Hybrid based Cayenne for the 2009 model- whether the hybrid engine will be fit into the S, Turbo or base model is still unknown.