Cayenne 3-liter Audi diesel confirmed for Porsche Cayenne

[Bartek S.]

Many will cringe at the idea of a diesel-powered Porsche, but since Stuttgart rolled out its first SUV, we've all had a while to get used to the idea. Although previous speculation held on to hopes that Porsche might employ a more powerful 3.2-liter oil-burner, reports now indicate that the Cayenne diesel will employ Audi's 240-horsepower 3.0-liter TDI V6.
Expect the diesel Cayenne to debut next March, following a probable launch at the 2009 Geneva auto show.
autoblog.

 

[Tarek]

What's happening to Porsche?

 

[Centurion]

What's happening to Porsche?

They are adapting to change. Petrol prices are peaking upwards so fuel efficient fuels are becoming more popular. Besides that diesel makes perfect sense in an SUV, more torque = more thrust. Today's diesel engines are not crappy as those manufactured during the 90s.

 

[Tarek]

^Why not they make their own powerful diesel? if it's the cost to develop an entirely new engine they can use it in diff other Porsche models.

 

[Sunny]

Which other model? 911? Boxter? Cayman? Good luck selling any of them with an oil burner. As good as the modern diesel engines are, not many are rushing to buy a Porsche sports car to experience one. May be they will also offer one in the new 4 door thingy.

 

[Centurion]

^Why not they make their own powerful diesel? if it's the cost to develop an entirely new engine they can use it in diff other Porsche models.

They save a staggering amount of money using an Audi engine instead of spending countless of hours in the drawing board and in labs developing an engine which will only be used in one single car.

The Panamera will most likely not get this engine at all since Hybrid will be far more sexy option.

 

[Potential]

I think some of you need to wake up and smell the roses. Would you prefer a slightly diluted Porsche or no Porsche at all. If some of you where mangement there would be no more Porsche. The market is changing. Sitting and waiting will kill companies. Everyone is on the move in a big way at the moment. The market will not wait for stragglers. Porsche have bit the bullet and decided this is a must to continue growth. Good decision in my eyes...

 

[coolraoul]

It's a completely stupid decision from Porsche.

Now that Porsche basically owns VAG, they even could live without selling any car at all.
They should let Audi use this diesel and concentrate on sportcar to keep their image. Because Porsche will soon be seen as a tractor-seller, and noone will ever think to the 911 when Porsche is mentionned.

A Cayenne-hybrid, why not. But a diesel? As powerful as a 1972 911 but more than twice heavier?

Do you imagine a Porsche that can be thrashed by anything with a motor, makes a tractor noise and has the redline at 3500rpm? Where is the spirit, please?

Can somebody explain to me WHY Ferrari can live without an awful bloated 3.5t pig and a superb 120hp diesel motor? Why Lamborhini does not fit the 1.4l TDI in the Murcielago? Why Maserati does not build an 1.3l CDTI Quattroporte? Why Porsche is still alone with the Cayenne?

Because they don't need it to survive. And now Porsche needs it even less, because they almost can let Audi and VW make money for them.

 

[martinbo]

Porsche sells Cayennes in droves. Diesels are eminently suited to SUVs. Now make the connection and you have a motivator for the strategy.

 

[coolraoul]

Yes, if Porsche wants to be seen as Audi.
No, if Porsche wants to be seen as a company building fabulous sportcars.

Then, I propose something: Porsche should rebadge the Audi A3 2.0l TDI, and sell it under the Porsche badge, only a little more expensive. With S-Line, because it's a Porsche. I'm sure they would sell a lot of them. Would it be good for the image? I'm not sure.

Porsche needs its image to sell the cars. They are losing it, and opening a boulevard for Aston Martin. Porsche will soon have lost a big part of its appeal, of its exclusivity, and Aston will remain alone selling mid-priced exclusive sportcars.

Noone would buy a 911 if it was an Audi (which is why I'm sure the R8 will not be a big-seller for long), so soon noone will buy 911. Porsche will be obliged to develop other Cayennes and trendy cars like that, and become Audi II.

Sometimes, what is good from an economic PoV is also only good in short-term strategy...and kills the business-model in a long-term strategy. Porsche without image is nothing.

They are already not very visible anymore in competition, if now everything wearing the badge is 2.5t heavy and has a weak rattling diesel allowing a Golf GTI to put it to shame...

 

[Sunny]

Can somebody explain to me WHY Ferrari can live without an awful bloated 3.5t pig and a superb 120hp diesel motor? Why Lamborhini does not fit the 1.4l TDI in the Murcielago? Why Maserati does not build an 1.3l CDTI Quattroporte? Why Porsche is still alone with the Cayenne?

Because they don't need it to survive.

Well, none of them are really surviving on their own.
All of them were going under before they were brought out and kept afloat and nursed back by sugar daddies. Porsche, also would have gone under, but they bootstrapped themselves with the Boxster. A lot of 'purists' also bemoaned that car.

I am not saying I like the idea of a 3T Porsche with a borrowed oil burner, but neither do I profess to know how to run a car company, let alone the largest independent sports car maker.

 

[EnI]

So, after 50 years another diesel powered Porsche is coming ...

This was the first one:

 

[Merc1]

Interesting development. I too would be against it, but of course we aren't Porsche board members. Their new sedan should be all the mainstream thats needed for now.

M

 

[Deleted member 25]

Didn't the big boss say: "The automotive pleasure starts at 5000 rpm" ?

 

[Tarek]

Which other model? 911? Boxter? Cayman? Good luck selling any of them with an oil burner. As good as the modern diesel engines are, not many are rushing to buy a Porsche sports car to experience one. May be they will also offer one in the new 4 door thingy.

They save a staggering amount of money using an Audi engine instead of spending countless of hours in the drawing board and in labs developing an engine which will only be used in one single car.

The Panamera will most likely not get this engine at all since Hybrid will be far more sexy option.

I mean the Panamera! it'll for sure get some diesels alongside hybrids.

 

[coolraoul]

Didn't the big boss say: "The automotive pleasure starts at 5000 rpm" ?

Yes I remember Wiedeking saying something like "the driving pleasure begins at 4500rpm, this is where the diesel ends..."

 

[conan_55]

Yes, if Porsche wants to be seen as Audi.
No, if Porsche wants to be seen as a company building fabulous sportcars.

Then yes, Porsche does want to be seen as audi. Because Cayenne diesel is a go no matter what anyone says. In time, even the Panamera will be diesel.

 

[martinbo]

Look chaps, I'm no fan of diesels. I too like all of you enthusiasts believe that performance motoring nirvana is dependant on a willing, rev-happy engine coupled with a lightweight, compact, low CofG concept. SUVs don't fit this bill. 911s and Boxsters and Caymans do.

But that didn't stop Porsche from pulling off one of the best SUV success stories of our time. Call it ugly, call it impure or call it pointless; the Cayenne nevertheless manages to occupy the forecourts of many a wealthy customer. It's a Porsche for families. Dad can have the GT2. Cayennes, as ugly as they may be, still have immense brand cachet and street presence and for this reason affluent customers in the market for a prestige SUV rather than a luxury saloon flock to Porsche showrooms. A powerful, torquey diesel Cayenne with the right vital statistics will be as justifiable as the current narrow angle V6-engined 3.6 litre.

 

[coolraoul]

The V6 Cayenne is a shame, too. And the diesel Cayenne is an infamy. Porsche was a company that was all about passion, competition, emotion.
Now that the future is safe with VAG, why not going this way again and forgetting the Cayenne?

Why not polishing the image, instead of mocking the name by making a (weak) diesel that doesn't rev, doesn't sound right, doesn't feel sporty, in one word doesn't fit Porsche by any mean? Why turning an empassionating company into another luxury maker who forgets his history?

We already have BMW (and somehow Audi too) as sporty-luxury, but Porsche is unique as a German true sportcar company. Why putting it down?
An innovative hybrid, why not, as it can feel and sound sporty too, but not a diesel.

 

[zegerman]

I doubt buyers will mind having a diesel engine to choose from when they're buying a Cayenne. Let's not forget what percentage of Porsche buyers actually gives a crap about the sportyness of the car itself, it's bought for the sake of having a Porsche, a car with a bit exclusive price tag. Cayenne is a fine example of that. On the other hand, like said a heavy car like that might just be better run with a engine that has the torque to move it. Also Cayenne has more sitable seats than the other cars in Porsche's lineup which suits a diesel engines better. This is a daily driver.