Porsche has recently confirmed that it will offer a diesel powered Cayenne SUV due out next March, according to a report by Autocar.
The turbo diesel Cayenne will employ a version of Audi's 3.0-liter V-6 TDI used by the Q7 that produces 240 horsepower and 400 lb-ft or torque. Porsche had previously scheduled to unveil both the diesel Cayenne and face lifted Boxster together next January, but rhas apparently thought it best to debut them separately.
Interestingly, during a MT interview in 2006, then Porsche Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Hans Riedel stated "A Cayenne diesel is out. It wouldn't have the right driving characteristics, it doesn't fit our brand, and it isn't the right answer for the environment."
Riedel further added that "Anyway, diesel is less than 20 percent of the world SUV market--why chase that small segment?" Granted, much has changed both economically and environmentally since that interview, but with so much diesel technology available under the VAG umbrella, Porsche was bound to bring an oil burning Cayenne to the global market sooner rather than later.
We'll be sure to keep you up to date on further information regarding the model's full specifications, pricing and availability when they become known in the coming months.
Source: Autocar