Porsche unveils diesel-powered Cayenne

After years of saying it wouldn't offer a diesel-powered model, Porsche has bowed to market demands by bolstering its line-up with an oil-burning Cayenne.

The Zuffenhausen carmaker says it took the decision partly as a result of new European regulations that provide tax incentives for diesel vehicles.

Rather than developing a new diesel engine from scratch, Porsche has simply leveraged its stake in the Volkswagen Group and pilfered Audi's excellent 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine, which pumps out 176kW and a robust 550Nm.

Although the peak power figure is short of the 3.6-litre petrol V6-powered Cayenne's 213kW, the diesel's torque quota dwarfs its petrol counterpart's 385Nm.

The real payoff comes at the fuel pump though, as Porsche quotes an overall consumption figure of 9.3L/100 km -- pretty darn good for a circa-2.3-tonne SUV.

What's more, Porsche boasts: "The spontaneous throttle response and high torque characteristics of this diesel engine deliver the required performance levels for an athletic all-terrain vehicle such as the Cayenne."

In response to customer demand, the new Cayenne model will initially be offered in Europe (from next February), but the company says, "Preparations for market introduction in other countries are underway".

Porsche flogged 45,478 Cayennes in the 2007/08 financial year (a record for the SUV line-up), but the credit crunch/global economic meltdown is likely to dent sales in the current year (and possibly the next couple).

Regardless, the company has been particularly proactive in terms of new-model activity this year, rolling out revamped 911 and Boxster/Cayman ranges with improved performance and enviro credentials.

Still in the pipeline is a hybrid Cayenne that will reportedly achieve consumption of 9.1L/100km (or better). It's due on sale by the end of the decade.

Meanwhile, we can expect the Cayenne diesel to launch in 2009, and we'd suggest pricing will start around $100K.

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