Diesel Cayenne on the way, but no VW-based entry-level Porsche

Porsche's research and development chief, Wolfgang Durheimer, has dismissed rumours of a VW-based entry-level sportscar but has strongly hinted the Zuffenhausen brand will soon release a turbodiesel Cayenne model.

Speaking at the launch of the Second Generation 997 model 911 near the German company's base in Stuttgart, Durheimer told the Carsales Network that the brand saw value in a turbodiesel variant of its SUV, but that there were no plans to build a new entry-level sportscar model using VW Group architecture.

According to Durheimer, with the new generation Boxer powerplant (more here) now in production, Porsche's number one R&D priority was now Panamera and the powertrain architecture that it shares with Cayenne. And while he confirmed that the V6 petrol-engined hybrid model would take the lion's share of publicity as the "efficiency" leader for the SUV and GT ranges, diesel does have a future in the Porsche world.

"We are seriously studying the possibilities for a diesel application in the Cayenne," Durheimer told the Carsales Network.

"Our answer in the terms of efficiency will be the hybrid version for the Panamera and the Cayenne. Meanwhile as we increase our stake in VW to 51 per cent, we become Europe's largest diesel manufacturer -- therefore it wouldn't be wise to say no to a diesel."

According to Durheimer, Porsche will make few if any changes to the chosen existing VW Group turbodiesel powerplant -- believed to be the 3.0-litre V6. Indeed, quickly ruling out developing Porsche's own turbodiesel powerplant, Durheimer said plainly: "I think there's no necessity to re-invent the diesel [for our Cayenne]."

The timetable on a Cayenne TDI is unclear, however. With the April 2009 production start for Panamera confirmed by Durheimer, the company would appear to have plenty on its plate. This could mean that while the hybrid SUV will arrive late this year, the diesel could slip back to the launch of the all-new Cayenne due in early 2010.

At the other end of the Porsche spectrum, the use of VW Group componentry won't stretch to building a VW-based entry-level model Porsche sportscar, however.

Sidelining rumours that a VW-based Porsche model was already on the drawing board, Durheimer said there was no current VW-based program. He also stated there was no formal method via which Porsche reviewed VW's future models.

"It might come if we increase our shareholding but there is no process [currently]," he explained.

"I cannot tell you of the product planning of VW -- that is a separate company and they make their own decisions in their product committees and they are not asking us about permission."

The boss boffin opined, however, that the public discussion that surrounds the 'fantasy' cars that is the 'born-again' 924 was nonetheless important to Porsche.

"You need to be very sensitive and open to everything that's published in the press and 'announced' somewhere around [the world]... And you need to evaluate the impact that it has on your decided [future] product line.

"It would not be wise to just ignore someone's ideas," Durheimer said.

"Customer behaviours will not be constant in the future. It changes and we need to be carefully aware [of these changes] as well."

According to Durheimer international feedback will also determine Porsche's decision making process on whether it develops smaller capacity variants of its trademark six-cylinder Boxer engines.

"They [smaller sixes] are a possibility but it depends on the international demand for sportscars. If only Germany remains as a high-speed country and everybody else is not allowed to drive fast anymore then it would limit the use cases of going very fast to racetracks. So we would have to look at what sort of cars would suit and develop the cars to fit that demand."

In the meantime, however, he ruled out any return of a four-cylinder Porsche.

"I can't see it right now... We have just done a new engine generation on the six-cylinder and this is it for this stage," he said.

To comment on this article click here