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Porsche Cayenne Diesel goes on sale, Panamera may be next

 
12 8,602 views February 3, 2009

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porsche cayenne diesel assembly 001

porsche cayenne diesel assembly 001

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Porsche has stated in the past it would not fit any diesel powerplants to its cars but with toughening fuel economy and emissions regulations looming in both the U.S. and Europe the sports carmaker has been left with no choice. Sales of the Cayenne Diesel have now started in Europe, and according to the company’s director of SUV operations more diesel-powered Porsches could follow.

Speaking with Automotive News Europe, Porsche’s Klaus Gerhard Wolpert said the company has not excluded adding a diesel option to some of its other models. Wolpert explained that the Cayenne Diesel will be used to test the car buying public’s opinion on a diesel-powered Porsches, and if it proves successful the upcoming Panamera would likely be next. Management also plans to examine whether a diesel option will be more popular than hybrid option, however, a petrol-electric Porsche is still at least a year away from sale.

As for the Cayenne Diesel, its new engine develops a peak output of 240hp (179kW), and Porsche is expected to produce up to 15,000 units annually. The company says its new diesel Cayenne achieves a fuel consumption rating of 25.3mpg (9.3L/100km) and CO2 emissions of 244g/km, both of which should help improve its carbon footprint and allow the SUV to be registered in lower tax brackets in countries where registration taxes are based on emissions.

The base price for the new diesel-powered Cayenne in Europe is €47,250 without taxes. Base-level models will be equipped with the Tiptronic S automatic transmission as standard equipment, since its reliability in handling the engine's substantial 406lb-ft (550Nm) of torque is unquestioned.
2010 Porsche Panamera
2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Porsche Cayenne Diesel assembly begins in Leipzig

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Comments (12)

  1. By Gus Posted: 6/16/2008 4:00pm PDT

    Meanwhile Ferdinand Porsche rolls in his grave...
     
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  2. ma_corsa avatar corsa Posted: 12/29/2008 3:08pm PST

    Actually, it isn't Porsche's "first-ever diesel-engine vehicle" as stated in the article... the Porsche tractors built from 1956 to 1963 were diesels, and a Porsche-designed diesel engine was used in a couple of other tractor lines prior to Porsche building their own.

    http://porsche-diesel.com/
     
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  3. ma_Nelson avatar Nelson Posted: 12/29/2008 3:24pm PST

    Actually, it isn't Porsche's "first-ever diesel-engine vehicle" as stated in the article... the Porsche tractors built from 1956 to 1963 were diesels, and a Porsche-designed diesel engine was used in a couple of other tractor lines prior to Porsche building their own.

    http://porsche-diesel.com/

    Strictly speaking, yes, Corsa, but Porsche themselves are calling the diesel Cayenne their first-ever compression-ignition vehicle, so I'm going to take their word for it.
     
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  4. ma_justinhk2000 avatar justinhk2000 Posted: 12/29/2008 8:20pm PST

    Some old diesal cars use to have spark plugs or some form of an ignition other than compression. Back in my parent's age, my dad remember an old volkswagen diesal to have spark plugs, and since this old tractor is probaly older than that volks, then the engine may be spark ignition.But, again my dad's aging so he might be shaky on his facts.
     
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  5. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 2/3/2009 6:32am PST

    Porsche has a history of ignoring parts of their past that don't fit into their current image and business plan.

    A good example is the Porsche 914 and 914/6. When the Boxster came out Porsche claimed it was their first mid-engine road car in 40 years. They tied the new Boxster to the the heritage of the 550 spyder and ignored even the existence of the 914. This is some ad copy for the Boxster:

    1956 meets 2001.

    Presenting the Boxster. It's classic, yet futuristic. It's a cross between a 550 Spyder and the space shuttle. It's the first mid-engine Porsche roadster in over 40 years. And it's in the Here and Now. Starting at $39,980. Contact us at 1-800-PORSCHE or http://www.porsche-usa.com and come to believe: Porsche. There is no substitute.SM

    Automobile Magazine, December 1998, Vol. 13 No. 9.

    Considering that I was driving a 1972 Porsche 914 when that ad in Automobile came out I was a bit surprised by the official Porsche version of history.
     
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  6. ma_CA911Driver avatar CA911Driver Posted: 2/3/2009 8:45am PST

    JSH - the 914 was a Targa, NOT a true roadster. Porsche was correct about describing the Boxster.
     
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  7. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 2/3/2009 9:23am PST

    The classical definition of a roadster is a 2 seat car without a top or side windows. The Porsche 550 Spyder was a race car and was never offered with a roof from the factory.

    The Porsche Boxster is a convertible not a roadster.

    We can quibble on the details of what is or is not a roadster. My point is that Porsche goes to great lengths to pretend that they never sold the 914. They have a similar position on the 924. Porsche will also never bring up their history in agricultural products . Why the selective memory? These products do not fit with their current market position as a manufacturer of exclusive luxury automobiles.
     
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  8. ma_CA911Driver avatar CA911Driver Posted: 2/3/2009 11:04am PST

    JSH - Roadster, convertible... most people (including Mazda, BMW and more) do not recognize any real difference. The Boxter was designed from the outset as an open top car. The 914 had a hard roof and targa bar; clearly not a roadster or convertible. Again, Porsche is correct.

    As for your belief that Porsche desires to forget about the 914 and 924, really; who in their right mind wouldn't want to? The introduction of those cars, both mostly just VW's are far from Porsche's proudest moments. In fact, the 914 was co-branded as a VW and the 924 was originally designed to be a Scirocco. As for tractors, most early automobile manufacturers built products besides cars as they were getting off the ground. How does that have anything to do with Porsche's well earned reputation as a producer of outstanding performance vehicles?
     
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  9. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 2/3/2009 12:26pm PST

    Yes, the 914 was a joint venture with VW. It also sold 115,621 units over 8 years or 14,452 per year.

    The 924 was another joint venture with VW but this time VW bailed on the project. The 924/944/968 sold 328,049 vehicles over 20 years for a rate of 16,402 per year. That front-engine / rear drive platform saved Porsche in the 70's and early 80's when 911 sales tanked. I'll repeat, the 924 SAVED Porsche.

    Porsche has another joint venture with VW, the Cayenne. I bet it burns you up that a tarted-up VW Toureg outsells the 911 year after year. However, the Cayenne has put Porsche in the position to buy a controlling interest in VW.

    While Porsche AG and 911 purists like to pretend that the 911 has carried the company it is simply not the case.

    (From 1963 to 2006 a total of 639,532 911's have been sold. That is a rate of 14,872 per year)
     
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  10. ma_CA911Driver avatar CA911Driver Posted: 2/3/2009 2:01pm PST

    No less an authority than Automobile Magazine (March 2009, page 60) in reference to the 1989 Mazda Miata states "...Mazda reinvented the two seat roadster."

    As for your desire to point to sales volume (as opposed to something performance car drivers actually care about, like say performance...) how many X-cars did General Motors sell and how many K-cars did Chrysler sell? Yeah, the K-car saved Chrysler. Guess that makes it a quality piece???

    Quality lasts.... and how many old 914's or 924's do you see at car shows? There is a reason even Porsche technicians refer to them as throw-away cars. Something that can never be said about any 911 ever produced.
     
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  11. ma_CA911Driver avatar CA911Driver Posted: 2/3/2009 2:02pm PST

    JSH - By the way, your original point was that Porsche 'forgot' about the 914 when describing the then new Boxter. I believe you have been proven incorrect.

    Nuff said.
     
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  12. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 2/3/2009 2:48pm PST

    Oh, the snobbery. You got to love those 911 snobs that look down their noses at the "throw-away" cars that allow Porsche to stay in business. Is it just because these less expensive cars can run circles around the 911 for half the price that causes 911 owners to deride the 911's brothers? I notice that you can't even bring yourself to spell the Boxster's name correctly.

    As to the definition of roadster:

    Encyclopedia > Barchetta
    A roadster is a two-seat, open car, traditionally without side windows (possibly with pluggable doortops), so that even with the lightweight convertible top raised the driver and passenger remain exposed to the elements. In modern times, the word is often used to describe a two-seat convertible without fixed window frames, especially a light-weight sportscar. Here, the use of the name 'roadster' is more a marketing than a technical one, invoking the feeling of an open-top machine for enjoyment, like those of the past.

    The roadster name experienced a resurgence in 1990 with the introduction of the Mazda MX_5/Miata. Though not roadsters in the traditional open sense, many manufacturers today offer "roadsters". Notable vehicles include the BMW Z4, Honda S2000, Mercedes SLK, Porsche Boxster, Toyota MR-Spyder and the Fiat barchetta.

    Italian makers favor the term Barchetta for a completely open-topped vehicle.
     
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